Diglycidic ether derivative therapeutics and methods for their use

ABSTRACT

This invention provides compound having a structure of Formula I or Formula II. Uses of such compounds for treatment of various indications, including prostrate cancer as well as methods of treatment involving such compounds are also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 61/129,537 entitled “SMALL MOLECULE THERAPEUTICSAND METHODS FOR THEIR USE” filed on Jul. 2, 2008, which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

This invention was made in part with government support under grantnumber W81XWH-05-1-0058 (PC040768), awarded by U.S. Army MedicalResearch and Materiel Command. The government has certain rights in theinvention.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to therapeutics, their uses and methods for thetreatment of various indications, including various cancers. Inparticular the invention relates to therapies and methods of treatmentfor cancers such as prostate cancer, including all stages and androgendependent, androgen-sensitive and androgen-independent (also referred toas hormone refractory, castration resistant, androgen deprivationresistant, androgen ablation resistant, androgen depletion-independent,castration-recurrent, anti-androgen-recurrent).

BACKGROUND

Androgens mediate their effects through the androgen receptor (AR).Androgens play a role in a wide range of developmental and physiologicalresponses and are involved in male sexual differentiation, maintenanceof spermatogenesis, and male gonadotropin regulation (R. K. Ross, G. A.Coetzee, C. L. Pearce, J. K. Reichardt, P. Bretsky, L. N. Kolonel, B. E.Henderson, E. Lander, D. Altshuler & G. Daley, Eur Urol 35, 355-361(1999); A. A. Thomson, Reproduction 121, 187-195 (2001); N. Tanji, K.Aoki & M. Yokoyama, Arch Androl 47, 1-7 (2001)). Several lines ofevidence show that androgens are associated with the development ofprostate carcinogenesis. Firstly, androgens induce prostaticcarcinogenesis in rodent models (R. L. Noble. Cancer Res 37, 1929-1933(1977); R. L. Noble, Oncology 34, 138-141 (1977)) and men receivingandrogens in the form of anabolic steroids have a higher incidence ofprostate cancer (J. T. Roberts & D. M. Essenhigh, Lancet 2, 742 (1986);J. A. Jackson, J. Waxman & A. M. Spiekerman, Arch Intern Med 149,2365-2366 (1989); P. D. Guinan, W. Sadoughi, H. Alsheik, R. J. Ablin, D.Alrenga & I. M. Bush, Am J Surg 131, 599-600 (1976)). Secondly prostatecancer does not develop if humans or dogs are castrated before puberty(J. D. Wilson & C. Roehrborn, J Clin Endocrinol Metab 84, 4324-4331(1999); G. Wilding, Cancer Surv 14, 113-130 (1992)). Castration of adultmales causes involution of the prostate and apoptosis of prostaticepithelium while eliciting no effect on other male external genitalia(E. M. Bruckheimer & N. Kyprianou, Cell Tissue Res 301, 153-162 (2000);J. T. Isaacs. Prostate 5, 545-557 (1984)). This dependency on androgensprovides the underlying rationale for treating prostate cancer withchemical or surgical castration (androgen ablation).

Androgens also play a role in female cancers. One example is ovariancancer where elevated levels of androgens are associated with anincreased risk of developing ovarian cancer (K. J. Helzlsouer, A. J.Alberg, G. B. Gordon, C. Longcope, T. L. Bush, S. C. Hoffman & G. W.Comstock, JAMA 274, 1926-1930 (1995); R. J. Edmondson, J. M. Monaghan &B. R. Davies, Br J Cancer 86, 879-885 (2002)). The AR has been detectedin a majority of ovarian cancers (H. A. Risch, J Natl Cancer Inst 90,1774-1786 (1998); B. R. Rao & B. J. Slotman, Endocr Rev 12, 14-26(1991); G. M. Clinton & W. Hua Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 25, 1-9 (1997)),whereas estrogen receptor-alpha (ERa) and the progesterone receptor aredetected in less than 50% of ovarian tumors.

The only effective treatment available for advanced prostate cancer isthe withdrawal of androgens which are essential for the survival ofprostate epithelial cells. Androgen ablation therapy causes a temporaryreduction in tumor burden concomitant with a decrease in serumprostate-specific antigen (PSA). Unfortunately prostate cancer caneventually grow again in the absence of androgens (androgen-independentdisease) (Huber et al 1987 Scand J. Urol Nephrol. 104, 33-39).Androgen-independent disease is biochemically characterized before theonset of symptoms by a rising titre of serum PSA (Miller et al 1992 J.Urol. 147, 956-961). Once the disease becomes androgen-independent mostpatients succumb to their disease within two years.

The AR has distinct functional domains that include the carboxy-terminalligand-binding domain (LBD), a DNA-binding domain (DBD) comprising twozinc finger motifs, and an N-terminus domain (NTD) that contains one ormore transcriptional activation domains. Binding of androgen (ligand) tothe LBD of the AR results in its activation such that the receptor caneffectively bind to its specific DNA consensus site, termed the androgenresponse element (ARE), on the promoter and enhancer regions of“normally” androgen regulated genes, such as PSA, to initiatetranscription. The AR can be activated in the absence of androgen bystimulation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) pathway, withinterleukin-6 (IL-6) and by various growth factors (Culig et al 1994Cancer Res. 54, 5474-5478; Nazareth et al 1996 J. Biol. Chem. 271,19900-19907; Sadar 1999 J. Biol. Chem. 274, 7777-7783; Ueda et al 2002 AJ. Biol. Chem. 277, 7076-7085; and Ueda et al 2002 B J. Biol. Chem. 277,38087-38094). The mechanism of ligand-independent transformation of theAR has been shown to involve: 1) increased nuclear AR protein suggestingnuclear translocation; 2) increased AR/ARE complex formation; and 3) theAR-NTD (Sadar 1999 J. Biol. Chem. 274, 7777-7783; Ueda et al 2002 A J.Biol. Chem. 277, 7076-7085; and Ueda et al 2002 B J. Biol. Chem. 277,38087-38094). The AR may be activated in the absence of testicularandrogens by alternative signal transduction pathways inandrogen-independent disease, which is consistent with the finding thatnuclear AR protein is present in secondary prostate cancer tumors (Kimet al 2002 Am. J. Pathol. 160, 219-226; and van der Kwast et al 1991Inter. J. Cancer 48, 189-193).

Available inhibitors of the AR include nonsteroidal antiandrogens suchas bicalutamide (Casodex™), nilutamide, and flutamide and the steroidalantiandrogen, cyproterone acetate. These antiandrogens target the LBD ofthe AR and predominantly fail presumably due to poor affinity andmutations that lead to activation of the AR by these same antiandrogens(Taplin, M. E., Bubley, G. J. Kom Y. J., Small E. J., Uptonm M.,Rajeshkumarm B., Balkm S. P., Cancer Res., 59, 2511-2515 (1999)). Theseantiandrogens would also have no effect on the recently discovered ARsplice variants that lack the ligand-binding domain (LBD) to result in aconstitutively active receptor which promotes progression ofandrogen-independent prostate cancer (Dehm S M, Schmidt L J, Heemers HV, Vessella R L. Tindall D J., Cancer Res 68, 5469-77, 2008; Guo Z, YangX, Sun F, Jiang R, Linn D E, Chen H, Chen H, Kong X, Melamed J, Tepper CG, Kung H J, Brodie A M, Edwards J, Qiu Y., Cancer Res 69, 2305-13,2009).

Conventional therapy has concentrated on androgen-dependent activationof the AR through its C-terminal domain. Recent studies developingantagonists to the AR have concentrated on the C-terminus andspecifically: 1) the allosteric pocket and AF-2 activity(Estébanez-Perpiñá et al 2007, PNAS 104, 16074-16079); 2) in silico“drug repurposing” procedure for identification of nonsteroidalantagonists (Bisson et al 2007, PNAS 104, 11927-11932); and coactivatoror corepressor interactions (Chang et al 2005, Mol Endocrinology 19,2478-2490; Hur et al 2004, PLoS Biol 2, E274; Estébanez-Perpiñá et al2005, JBC 280, 8060-8068; He et al 2004, Mol Cell 16, 425-438).

The AR-NTD is also a target for drug development (e.g. WO 2000/001813),since the NTD plays a role in activation of the AR in the absence ofandrogens (Sadar, M. D. 1999 J. Biol. Chem. 274, 7777-7783; Sadar M D etal 1999 Endocr Relat Cancer. 6, 487-502; Ueda et al 2002 J. Biol. Chem.277, 7076-7085; Ueda 2002 J. Biol. Chem. 277, 38087-38094; Blaszczyk etal 2004 Clin Cancer Res. 10, 1860-9; Dehm et al 2006 J Biol Chem. 28,27882-93; Gregory et al 2004 J Biol Chem. 279, 7119-30). The AR-NTD isimportant in hormonal progression of prostrate cancer as shown byapplication of decoy molecules (Quayle et al 2007, Proc Natl Acad SciUSA, 104, 1331-1336).

While the crystal structure has been resolved for the AR C-terminus LBD,this has not been the case for the NTD due to its high flexibility andintrinisic disorder in solution (Reid et al 2002 J. Biol. Chem. 277,20079-20086) thereby hampering virtual docking drug discoveryapproaches.

SUMMARY

This invention is based in part on the fortuitous discovery thatcompounds described herein modulate androgen receptor (AR) activity.Specifically, compounds identified herein, show inhibition of ARN-Terminal Domain (NTD) transactivation, which may be useful forblocking in vivo tumor growth in the presence and absence of androgens.The discovery was particularly fortuitous because the initial screen ofmarine invertebrate extracts was testing for inhibition of AR NTDtransactivation by at least 50% and some of the compounds indentified inthat initial screen were determined to have a structural resemblance toBADGE (Bisphenol A Diglycidic Ether). The resemblance to BADGE suggeststhat these compounds are most likely of industrial origin and werebioaccumulated by the sponge from the contaminated seawater.Accordingly, due to the known activities for Badge compounds, thepresent BADGE derivatives are very unlikely to have been screened in theassay under any other circumstances.

The compounds described herein may be used for in vivo or in vitroresearch uses (i.e. non-clinical) to investigate the mechanisms oforphan and nuclear receptors (including steroid receptors such as theandrogen receptor). Furthermore, these compounds may be usedindividually or as part of a kit for in vivo or in vitro research toinvestigate signal transduction pathways and/or the activation of orphanand nuclear receptors using recombinant proteins, cells maintained inculture, and/or animal models.

This invention is also based in part on the surprising discovery thatthe compounds described herein, may also be used to modulate theandrogen receptor activity either in vivo or in vitro for both researchand therapeutic uses. The compounds may be used in an effective amountso that androgen receptor activity may be modulated. The androgenreceptor may be mammalian. Alternatively, the androgen receptor may behuman. In particular, the compounds may be used so inhibittransactivation of the AR N-terminal domain (NTD). The compoundsmodulatory activity may be used in either an in vivo or an in vitromodel for the study of at least one of the following indications:prostate cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, hairloss, acne, hirsutism, ovarian cysts, polycystic ovary disease,precocious puberty, and age-related macular degeneration. Furthermore,the compounds modulatory activity may be used for the treatment of atleast one of the following indications: prostate cancer, breast cancer,ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, hair loss, acne, hirsutism, ovariancysts, polycystic ovary disease, precocious puberty (testoxicosis) andage-related macular degeneration. The indication for treatment may beprostate cancer. The prostate cancer may be androgen-independentprostate cancer. The prostate cancer may be androgen-dependent prostatecancer.

In accordance with one embodiment there is provided a use of a compoundhaving a structure of Formula I

wherein, J may be H or a moiety may be selected from TABLE 1; L may beO, S, NH, NG, N⁺HN₂, or N⁺HG; X may be H, CH₃, CH₂F, CHF₂,CF₃, CH₂Cl,CHCl₂, CCl₃, CH₂Br, CHBr₂, CBr₃, CH₂I, CHI₂, CI₃, CH₂OJ′″, G, CH₂OG,CH₂OGOG′, GOG′, GOG′OG″, CH₂SG, CH₂NH₂, CH₂NHG, or CH₂NG₂; Q may be G,O, CH₂, CHG, CG₂, S, NH or NG; each Z may independently be N, CH, CF,CCl, CBr, CI, COH, CG, COG, CNH₂, CNHG, CNG₂, COSO₃H, COPO₃H₂; CSG,CSOG, or CSO₂G; R¹ and R² may each independently be H, or a branched orunbranched, substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl or together form asubstituted or unsubstituted, saturated, aromatic cyclic or non-aromaticcyclic C₃-C₁₀ alkyl; each G G′ and G″ may independently be a branched,unbranched, or aromatic cyclic or non-aromatic cyclic, substituted orunsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated C₁-C₁₀ alkyl; R³ may be H, abranched, unbranched, unsubstituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, or

J′ may be H or a moiety selected from TABLE 1; L′ may be O, S, NH, NG,N⁺H₂, or N⁺HG; each Z′ may independently be N, CH, CF, CCl, CBr, CI,COH, CG, COG, CNH₂, CNHG, CNG₂, COSO₃H, COPO₃H₂; CSG, CSOG, or CSO₂G; Q′may be G, O, CH₂, CHG, CG₂, S, NH or NG, X′ may be H, CH₃, CH₂F, CHF₂,CF₃, CH₂Cl, CHCl₂, CCl₃, CH₂Br, CHBr₂, CBr₃, CH₂I, CHI₂, CI₃, CH₂OJ′″,G, CH₂OG, CH₂OGOG′, GOG′, GOG′OG″, CH₂SG, CH₂NH₂, CH₂NHG, CH₂NG₂, or

R¹′ and R²′ may each independently be H, or a branched, unbranched,substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl or together form a substitutedor unsubstituted, saturated, aromatic cyclic or non-aromatic cyclicC₃-C₁₀ alkyl; each J″ and J′″ may independently be H or a moietyselected from TABLE 1; L″ may be O, S, NH, NG, N⁺H₂, or N⁺HG; each Z″may independently be N, CH, CF, CCl, CBr, CI, COH, CG, COG, CNH₂, CNHG,CNG₂, COSO₃H, COPO₃H₂; CSG, CSOG, or CSO₂G; Q″ may be G, O, CH₂, CHG,CG₂, S, NH or NG; and X″ may be H, CH₃, CH₂F, CHF₂, CF₃, CH₂Cl, CHCl₂,CCl₃, CH₂Br, CHBr₂, CBr₃, CH₂I, CHl₂, CI₃, CH₂OJ′″, G, CH₂OG, CH₂OGOG′,GOG′, GOG′OG″, CH₂SG, CH₂NH₂, CH₂NHG, or CH₂NG₂; wherein an optionalsubstituent if present may be selected from the group consisting of: oxo(i.e. ═O), OJ′″, COOH, R, OH, OR, F, Cl, Br, I, NH₂, NHR, NR₂, CN, SH,SR, SO₃H, SO₃R, SO₂R, OSO₃R, and NO₂ wherein R may be an unsubstitutedC₁-C₁₀ alkyl; for modulating androgen receptor (AR) activity.Alternatively, the use may be for the preparation of a medicament formodulating androgen receptor (AR).

In accordance with another embodiment, there is provided apharmaceutical composition comprising a compound having a structure ofFormula I set out above and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

In accordance with another embodiment, is provided a method formodulating AR activity, the method comprising administering to amammalian cell a compound having a structure of Formula I set out above.

The modulating of the androgen receptor (AR) activity may be in amammalian cell. The modulating of the androgen receptor (AR) activitymay be in a mammal. The mammal may be a human.

Alternatively, the administering may be to a mammal. The administeringmay be to a mammal in need thereof and in an effective amount for thetreatment of at least one indication selected from the group consistingof: prostate cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer,hair loss, acne, hirsutism, ovarian cysts, polycystic ovary disease,precocious puberty, and age-related macular degeneration.

Each X, X′ and X″ may independently be H, CH₃CH₂F, CH₂Cl, CH₂Br, CH₂I,CH₂OJ′″, CH₂OG, CH₂OGOG′, GOG′, GOG′OG″, CH₂SG, CH₂NH₂, CH₂NHG, orCH₂NG₂. Each Z, Z′, and Z″ may be independently be N, CH, CF, CCl, CBr,Cl or COH. R³ may be

Each Z, Z′ and Z″ may independently be N, CH, CF, CCl, CBr, CI, COH,CNH₂, COSO₃H, or COPO₃H₂. Each Z, Z′ and Z″ may independently be N, CH,CF, CCl, CBr, CI, or COH. Each Z, Z′ and Z″ may independently be CH, CF,CCl, CB4, or CI. Each Z, Z′ and Z″ may independently be CH, CCl, or CBr.Each Z, Z′, and Z″ may be CH.

Each of Q, Q′ and Q″ may be G, O, CH₂, CHG, S, or NH. Each of Q, Q′ andQ″ may be O, CH₂, S, or NH. Each of Q, Q′ and Q″ may be O, CH₂, or NH.Each of Q, Q′ and Q″ may be O, or CH₂. Each of Q, Q′ and Q″ may be O.Each of Q, Q′ and Q″ may be G, O, CHG, or NH. Each of Q, Q′ and Q″ maybe G, O, or CHG. Each of Q, Q′ and Q″ may be G, or O.

Each of R¹, R¹′, and R² and R²′ may independently be H, or a branched orunbranched, substituted or unsubstituted, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl. Each of R¹, R¹′,R² and R²′ may independently be H, or a branched or unbranched,unsubstituted or unsubstituted, C₁-C₉ alkyl. Each of R¹, R¹′, R² and R²′may independently be H, or a branched or unbranched, substituted orunsubstituted, C₁-C₈ alkyl. Each of R¹, R¹′, R² and R²′ mayindependently be H, or a branched or unbranched, substituted orunsubstituted, C₁-C₇ alkyl. Each of R¹, R¹′, R² and R²′ mayindependently be H, or a branched or unbranched, substituted orunsubstituted, C₁-C₆ alkyl. Each of R¹, R¹′, R² and R²′ mayindependently be H, or a branched or unbranched, substituted orunsubstituted, C₁-C₅ alkyl. Each of R¹, R¹′, R² and R²′ mayindependently be H, or a branched or unbranched, substituted orunsubstituted, C₁-C₄ alkyl. Each of R¹, R¹′, R² and R²′ mayindependently be H, or a branched or unbranched, substituted orunsubstituted, C₁-C₃ alkyl. Each of R¹, R¹′, R² and R²′ mayindependently be H, or a branched or unbranched, substituted orunsubstituted, C₁-C₂ alkyl. Each R¹, R¹′, R² and R²′ may be H or CH₃.Each R¹, R¹′, R² and R²′ may be CH₃. Each R¹, R¹′, R² and R²′ may be H.

X may be H, CH₃, CH₂F, CHF₂, CF₃, CH₂, Cl, CHCl₂, CCl₃, CH₂Br, CHBr₂,CBr₃, CH₂I, CHI₂, CI₃, CH₂OJ′″, CH₃OCH₃, CH₃OCH₂CH₃, G, CH₂OG, CH₂OGOG′,GOG′, GOG′OG″, CH₂SG, SH₂NH₂, CH₂NHG, or CH₂NG₂. X may be H, CH₃,CH₃OCH₃, CH₃OCH₂CH₃, CH₂F, CHF₂, CF₃, CH₂Cl, CHCl₂, CCl₃, CH₂Br, CHBr₂,CBr₃, CH₂I, CHI₂, CI₃, CH₂OJ′″, G, CH₂OG, CH₂NH₂, CH₂NHG, or CH₂NG₂. Xmay be H, CH₃, CH₃OCH₃, CH₃OCH₂CH₃, CH₂F, CH₂Cl, CH₂Br, CH₂I, CH₂OJ′″,CH₂OG, or CH₂OGOG′. X may be H, CH₃, CH₃OCH₃, CH₃OCH₂CH₃, CH₂F, CH₂Cl,CH₂Br, CH₂I, CH₂OJ′″, or CH₂OG. X may be H, CH₃, CH₃OCH₃, CH₃OCH₂CH₃,CH₂F, CH₂Cl, CH₂Br, CH₂I, or CH₂OJ′″, X may be H, CH₃, CH₃OCH₃,CH₃OCH₂CH₃, CH2F, CH₂Cl, CH₂Br, or CH₂I. X may be CH₃, CH₃, CH₃OCH₂CH₃,CH₂Cl, CH₂F, CH₂I, CH₂Br, CH₂OH, CH₂OCH₃, or CH₂O (isopropyl). X may beCH₃, CH₂Cl, CH₂F, CH₂I, CH₂Br, CH₂OH, or CH₂OCH₃. X may be CH₃, CH₂OH,CH₂OCH₃, or CH₂OCH₂CH₃. X may be CH₂Cl, CH₂F, CH₂I, or CH₂Br.

X′ may be H, CH₃, CH₂F, CH₂Cl, CH₂Br, CH₂I, CH₂OJ′″, CH₂OG, CH₂OGOG′,GOG′, GOG′OG″, CH₂SG, CH₂NH₂, CH₂NHG, or CH₂NG₂. X′ may be H, CH₃, CH₂F,CH₂Cl, CH₂Br, CH₂I, CH₂OJ′″, CH₂OG, or CH₂OGOG′. X′0 may be CH₂Cl, CH₂F,CH₂I, CH₂Br, CH₂OH, CH₂OCH₃, CH₂O (isopropyl), or CH₂OC₂H₄OC₄H₉. X′ maybe H, CH₃, CH₃OCH₃, CH₃OCH₂CH₃, CH2F, CH₂Cl, CH₂Br, or CH₂I. X′ may beCH₃, CH₃OCH₂CH₃, CH₂Cl, CH₂F, CH₂I, CH₂Br, CH₂OH, CH₂OCH₃, or CH₂O(isopropryl). X′ may be CH₃, CH₂Cl, CH₂F, CH₂I, CH₂Br, CH₂OH,CH₃OCH₂CH₃, or CH₂OCH₃. X′ may be CH₃, C₂Cl, CH₂F, CH₂I, CH₂Br, CH₂OH,or CH₂OCH₃. X′ may be CH₃, CH₂OH, CH₂OCH₃, or CH₂OCH₂CH₃. X′ may beCH₂Cl, CH₂F, CH₂I, or CH₂Br.

X″ may be H, CH₃, CH₂I, CH₂Cl, CH₂Br, CH₂F, CH₂OJ′″, CH₂OG or CH₂OGOG′.X″ may be CH₂Cl, CH₂F, CH₂I, CH₂Br, CH₂OH, CH₂OCH₃, CH₂O (isopropyl), orCH₂OC₂H₄OC₄H₉. X″ may be H, CH₃, CH₃OCH₃, CH₃OCH₂CH₃, CH2F, CH₂CI,CH₂Br, or CH₂I, X″ may be CH₃, CH₃OCH₂CH₃, CH₂Cl, CH₂F, CH₂I, CH₂Br,CH₂OH, CH₂OCH₃, or CH₂O (isopropyl). X″ may be CH₃, CH₂Cl, CH₂F, CH₂I,CH₂Br, CH₂OH, CH₃OCH₂CH₃, or CH₂OCH₃. X″ may be CH₃, CH₂Cl, CH₂F, CH₂I,CH₂Br, CH₂OH, or CH₂OCH₃. X″ may be CH₃, CH₂OH, CH₂OCH₃, or CH₂OCH₂CH₃.X″ may be CH₂Cl, CH₂F, CH₂I, or CH₂Br. X″ may be CH₂OCH₃ and X may beCH₂OCH₃.

Each J, J′, J″, and J″′, when present, may independently be H or anamino acid based moiety or a polyethylene glycol based moiety selectedfrom TABLE 1. Alternatively, each J, J′, J″, and J′″, when present, mayindependently be H or an amino acid based moiety selected from TABLE 1.Each J, J′, J″, and J′″, when present may independently be an amino acidbased moiety or a polyethylene glycol based moiety selected fromTABLE 1. Alternatively, each J, J′, J″, and J′″, when present, mayindependently be an amino acid based moiety selected from TABLE 1. EachJ, J′ J″, J″′, when present, may be H. Each J, J′, J″, and J′″, whenpresent may be

L, L′ and L″, when present, may independently be O, S, NH or N⁺H₂. L, L′and L″, when present, may independently be O, S, or NH. L, L′ and L″,when present, may independently be O, or S. Alternatively, L, L′ and L″,when present, may be O.

Each G, G′ and G″ may independently be a branched, unbranched, oraromatic cyclic or non-aromatic cyclic, substituted or unsubstituted,saturated or unsaturated C₁-C₁₀ alkyl. Each G, G′ and G″ mayindependently be a branched, unbranched, or non-aromatic cyclic,substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated C₁-C₁₀ alkyl.Each G, G′ and G″ may independently be a branched, unbranched, ornon-aromatic cyclic, substituted or saturated or unsaturated C₁-C₁₀alkyl. Each G G′ and G″ may independently be a branched, unbranched, oraromatic cyclic or non-aromatic cyclic, substituted or unsubstituted,saturated or unsaturated C₁-C₉ alkyl. Each G G′ and G″ may independentlybe a branched, unbranched, or aromatic cyclic or non-aromatic cyclic,substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated C₁-C₈ alkyl. EachG G′ and G″ may independently be a branched, unbranched, or aromaticcyclic or non-aromatic cyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, saturatedor unsaturated C₁-C₇ alkyl. Each G G′ and G″ may independently be abranched, unbranched or aromatic cyclic or non-aromatic cyclic,substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated C₁-C₆ alkyl. EachG, G′ and G″ may independently be a branched, unbranched or aromaticcyclic or non-aromatic cyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, saturatedor unsaturated C₁-C₅ alkyl. Each G, G′ and G″ may independently be abranched, unbranched or aromatic cyclic or non-aromatic cyclic,substituted or saturated or unsaturated C₁-C₄ alkyl. Each G, G′ and G″may independently be a branched, unbranched, or non-aromatic cyclic,substituted or unsubstituted, saturated or unsaturated C₁-C₃ alkyl.

An optional substitutent, if present, may be selected from the groupconsisting of: oxo (i.e. ═O), OJ′″, COOh, R, OH, OR, F, Cl, Br, I, NH₂,NHR, NR₂, CN, SH, SR, SO₃H, SO₃R, SO₂R, OSO₃R, and NO₂. An optionalsubstituent, if present, may be selected from the group consisting of:oxo (i.e. ═O), OJ′″, COOH, R, OH, OR, F, Cl, Br, I, NH₂, NHR, NR₂, SO₃H,SO₃R, SO₂R, and NO₂. An optional substituent, if present, may beselected from the group consisting of: oxo (i.e. ═O), OJ′″, COOH, R, OH,OR, F, Cl, Br, I, NH₂, and NO₂. An optional substituent, if present, maybe selected from the group consisting of: oxo (i.e. ═O), OJ′″, COOh, R,OH, OR, F, Cl, Br, and I. An optional substituent, if present, may beselected from the group consisting of: oxo (i.e. ═O), OJ′″, COOh, OH, F,Cl, Br, and I. Ann optional substituent, if present, may be selectedfrom the group consisting of: oxo (i.e. ═O), OJ′″, COOH, OH, F, and CI.R may be an unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl. R may be an unsubstituted C₁-C₉alkyl. R may be an unsubstituted C₁-C₈ alkyl. R may be an unsubstitutedC₁-C₇ alkyl. R may be an unsubstituted C₁-C₆ alkyl. R may be anunsubstituted C₁-C₅ alkyl. R may be an unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl. R maybe an unsubstituted C₁-C₃ alkyl. R may be an unsubstituted C₁-C₂ alkyl.R may be an unsubstituted C₁ alkyl.

The compound may be selected from one or more of the following:

The compounds described herein are meant to include ail racemic mixturesand all individual enantiomers or combinations thereof, whether or notthey are represented herein. Alternatively, one or more the OH groups onthe above compounds may be substituted to replace the H with a moietyselected from TABLE 1.

The mammalian cell may be a human cell. The modulating AR activity maybe for inhibiting AR N-terminal domain activity. The modulating ARactivity may be for inhibiting AR N-terminal domain (NTD) activity. Themodulating may be in vivo. The modulating AR activity may be fortreatment of at least one indication selected from the group consistingof: prostate cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer,hair loss, acne, hirsutism, ovarian cysts, polycystic ovary disease,precocious puberty, and age-related macular degeneration. The indicationmay be prostate cancer. The prostate cancer may be androgen-independentprostate cancer. The prostate career may be androgen-dependent prostatecancer.

In accordance with another embodiment, there are provided compoundshaving structures represented by Formula II

wherein each J and J′ may be independently be H or a moiety selectedfrom TABLE 1; each L and L′ may independently be O, S, NH, NG, N⁺H₂orN⁺HG; each Q and Q′ may independently be G, O, CH₂, CHG, CG₂, S, NH orNG; each Z and Z′ may independently be N, CH, CF, CCl, C, COH, CG, COG,CNH₂, CNHG, CNG₂, COSO₃H, COPO₃H₂; CSG, CSOG, or CSO₂G; R¹ and R² mayeach independently be H; or a branched or unbranched, substituted orunsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl or together form a substituted orunsubstituted, saturated, aromatic cyclic or non-aromatic cyclic C₃-C₁₀alkyl; X may be CH₂OG, CH₂OGOG′, CH₂SG, CH₂NH₂, CH₂NHG, CH₂I, CH₂Br,CH₂F, or CH₂NG₂; X′ may be H, CH₃, CH₂F, CHF₂, CF₃, CH₂Cl, CHCl₂, CCl₃,CH₂Br, CHBr₂, CBr₃, CH₂I, CHI₂, Cl₃, CH₂F, CHF₂CF₃, CH₂OJ′″, CH₂OG,CH₂OGOG′, GOG′, GOG′OG″, CH₂SG, CH₂NH₂, CH₂NHG, CH₂NG₂, or

R^(1′) and R^(2′) may each independently be H, or a branched orunbranched, substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, or R^(1′) andR^(2′) together form a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated, aromaticcyclic or non-aromatic cyclic C₃-C₁₀ alkyl; each J″ and J′″ mayindependently be H or a moiety selected from TABLE 1; L″ may be O, S,NH, NG, N⁺H₂, or N⁺HG; each Z″ may independently be N, CH, CF, CCl, CBr,Cl, COH, CG, COG, CNH₂, CNHG, CNG₂, COSO₃H, COPO₃H₂; CSG, CSOG, orCSO₂G; Q″ may be G, O, CH₂, CHG, CG₂, S, NH or NG; X″ may be H, CH₃,CH₂F, CHF₂, CF₃, CH₂Cl, CHCl₂, CH₂SG, CH₂NH₂, CH₂NHG, or CH₂NG₂; and G,G′, and G″ may independently be a branched or unbranched, non-aromaticcyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, saturated C₁-C₁₀ alkyl; wherein anoptional substituent if present may be selected from the groupconsisting of: oxo (i.e. ═O), OJ″′, COOH, R, OH, OR, F, Cl, Br, I, NH₂,NHR, NR₂, CH, SH, SR, SO₃H, SO₃R, SO₂R, OSO₃R, and NO₂ wherein R may bean unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl.

Alternatively, each J and J′ may independently be H or a moiety selectedfrom TABLE 1; each L and L′ may independently be O, S, NH, NG, N⁺H₂ orN⁺HG; each Q and Q′ may independently be G, O, CH₂, CHG, CG₂, S, NH orNG; each Z and Z′ may independently be N, CH, CF, CCl, CBr, CI, COH, CG,COG, CNH₂, CNHG, CNG₂, COSO₃H, COPO₃H₂; CSG, CSOG, or CSO₂G; R¹ and R²may each independently be H; or a branched or unbranched, substituted orunsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl or together form a substituted orunsubstituted, saturated aromatic cyclic or non-aromatic cyclic C₃-C₁₀alkyl; X may be CH₂OG, CH₂OGOG′, CH₂SG, CH₂NH₂CH₂NHG, CH₂I, CH₂Br, orCH₂F, X′ may be H, CH₃, CH₂F, CHF₂, CF₃, CH₂Cl, CHCl₂, CCl₃, CH₂Br,CHBr₂, CBr₃, CH₂I, CHI₂, Cl₃, CH₂F, CHF₂, CF₃, CH₂OJ′″, CH₂OG, CH₂OGOG′,GOG′, GOG′OG″, CH₂SG, CH₂NH₂, CH₂NHG, CH₂NG₂, or

R^(1′) and R^(2′)may each independently be H, or a branched orunbranched, substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, or R^(1′) andR^(2′) together form a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated, aromaticcyclic or non-aromatic cyclic, C₃-C₁₀ alkyl; each J″ and J′″ mayindependently be H or a moiety selected from TABLE 1; L″ may be O, S,NH, NG, N⁺H₂, or N⁺HG; each Z″ may independently be N, CH, CF, CCl, CBr,CI, COH, CG, COG, CNH₂, CNHG, CNG₂, COSO₃H, COPO₃H₂; CSG, CSOG, orCSO₂G; A″ may be G, O, CH₂, CHG, CG₂, S, NH or NG; X″ may be H, CH₃,CH₂F, CHF₂, CF₃, CH₂Cl, CHCl₂, CCl₃, CH₂Br, CHBr₂, CBr₃, CH₂OJ″′, G,CH₂OG, CH₂OGOG′, GOG′, GOG′OG″, CH₂SG, CH₂NH₂, CH₂NHG, or CH₂NG₂; andeach G, G′ and G″ may independently be a branched or unbranched,non-aromatic cyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, saturated C₁-C₁₀alkyl; wherein an optional substituent if present may be selected fromthe group consisting of: oxo (i.e. ═O), OJ′″, COOH, R, OH, OR, F, Cl,Br, I, NH₂, NHR, NR₂, CN, SH, SR, SO₂H, SO₃R, SO₂R, OSO₃R, and NO₂wherein R may be an unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl.

Alternatively, wherein each J and J′ may independently be H or a moietyselected from TABLE 1; each L and L′ may independently be O, S, or NH;each Q and Q′ may independently be O, CH₂, S, or NH; each Z and Z′ mayindependently be N, CH, CF, CCl, CI, COH, or CNH₂; R¹ and R² may eachindependently be H; or a branched or unbranched, substituted orunsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl or together form a substituted orunsubstituted, saturated, aromatic cyclic or non-aromatic cyclic C₃-C₁₀alkyl; X may be CH₂OG, CH₂OGOG′, CH₂SG, CH₂NH₂, CH₂NHG, CH₂I, CH₂Br,CH₂F, or CH₂NG₂; X′ may be H, CH₃, CH₂F, CHF₂, CF₃, CH₂Cl, CHCl₂, CCl₃,CH₂Br, CHBr₂, CBr₃, CH₂I, CHI₂, CI₃, CH₂F, CHF₂, CF₃, CH₂OJ′″, CH₂OG,CH₂OGOG′, GOG′, GOG′OG″, CH₂SG, CH₂NH₂, CH₂NHG, CH₂NG₂; R^(1′) andR^(2′) may each independently be H, or a branched or unbranched,substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₅ alkyl, or R^(1′) and R^(2′) togetherform a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated, aromatic cyclic ornon-aromatic cyclic C₃-C₁₀ alkyl; each J″ and J′″ may independently be Hor a moiety selected from TABLE 1; L″ may be O, S, or NH; each Z″ mayindependently be N, CH, CF, CCl, CI, COH, or CNH₂; Q″ may be O, CH₂, S,or NH; X″ may be H, CH₃, CH₂F, CHF₂, CF₃, CH₂Cl, CHCl₂, CCl₃, CH₂Br,CHBr₂, CBr₃, CH₂OJ′″, G, CH₂OG, CH₂OGOG′, CH₂SG, CH₂NH₂, CH₂NHG, CH₂I,CH₂Br, CH₂F, or CH₂NG₂ and each G, G′, and G″ may independently be abranched or unbranched, non-aromatic cyclic, substituted orunsubstituted, saturated C₁-C₅ alkyl; wherein an optional unsubstituentif present may be selected from the group consisting of: oxo (i.e. ═O),OJ′″, COOH, R, OH, OR, F, Cl, Br, I, NH₂, SH, SO₃H, and NO₂ wherein Rmay be an unsubstituted C₁-C₅ alkyl.

X′ may be H, CH₃, CH₂F, CH₂Cl, CH₂Br, CH₂I, CH₂OG, CH₂OGOG′, GOG′,GOG′OG″, CH₂SG, CH₂NH₂CH₂, NHG, CH₂NG₂, or

X′ may be H, CH₃, CH₂F, CH₂Cl, CH₂Br, CH₂I, CH₂OG, CH₂OGOG′, GOG′,GOG′OG″, CH₂SG, CH₂NH₂, CH₂NHG, or CH₂NG₂. X′ may be H, CH₃, CH₂F,CH₂Cl, CH₂Br, CH₂I, CH₂OG, CH₂OGOG′, GOG′, or GOG′OG″, X′ m ay be H,CH₃CH₂F, CH₂Cl, CH₂Br, CH₂I, CH₂OG, or CH₂OGOG′. X′ may be H, CH₃, CH₂F,CH₂Cl, CH₂Br, CH₂I, or CH₂OG. X′ may be H, CH₃, CH₂F, CH₂Cl, CH₂Br,CH₂I, CH₂O (isopropyl), CH₂OCH₃, or CH₂OCH₂CH₃. X′ may be H, CH₃, CH₂F,CH₂Cl, CH₂Br, CH₂I, CH₂O (isopropyl), CH₂OCH₃, or CH₂OCH₂CH₃. X′ may beH, CH₃, CH₂F, CH₂Cl, CH₂Br, CH₂I, or CH₂, OCH₃.

X″ may be H, CH₃, CH₂F, CH₂Cl, CH₂Br, CH₂I, CH₂OG, CH₂OGOG′, GOG′,GOG′OG″, CH₂O (isopropyl), CH₂SG, CH₂NH₂, CH₂NHG, or CH₂NG₂. X″ may beH, CH₃, CH₂F, CH₂Cl, CH₂Br, CH₂I, CH₂O (isopropyl), CH₂OG, CH₂OGOG′,GOG′, or GOG′OG″. X″ may be H, CH₃, CH₂F, CH₂Cl, CH₂Br, CH₂I, CH₂O(isopropyl), CH₂OCH₃, or CH₂OCH₂CH₃. X″ may be H, CH₃, CH₂F, CH₂Cl,CH₂Br, CH₂I, or CH₂OCH₃. X″ may be H, CH₃, CH₂F, CH₂Cl, CH₂Br, or CH₂I.

X may be CH₂OG, CH₂OGOG′, CH₂SG, CH₂I, CH₂Br, or CH₂F. X may be CH₂I,CH₂Br, CH₂F, CH₂OG, or CH₂OGOG′. X m ay be CH₂I, CH₂Br, CH₂F, CH₂OCH₃,or CH₂OCH₂CH₃. X may be CH₂I, CH₂Br, CH₂F, or CH₂OCH₃. X may be CH₂I,CH₂Br, or CH₂F.

Each Z, Z′ and Z″ may independently be N, CH, CF, CCl, CBr, CI or COH.Each Z, Z′ and Z″ may independently be CH, CF, CCl, CBr, CI, or COH.Alternatively, each Z, Z′ and Z″ may independently be CH, CF, CCl, CBr,or CI. Each Z, Z′, and Z″ may be CH.

Each of Q, Q′ and Q″ may be O.

Each of R¹, R¹′, R² and R²′ may independently be H, or a branched orunbranched, substituted or unsubstituted, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl. Each of R¹, R¹′,R² and R²′ may independently be H, or a branched or unbranched,substituted or unsubstituted, C₁-C₉ alkyl. Each of R¹, R¹′, R² and R²′may independently be H , or a branched or unbranched, substituted orunsubstituted, C₁-C₈ alkyl. Each of R¹, R¹′, R² and R²′ mayindependently be H, or a branched or unbranched, substituted orunsubstituted, C₁-C₇ alkyl. Each of R¹, R¹′, R² and R²′ mayindependently be H, or a branched or unbranched, substituted orunsubstituted, C₁-C₆ alkyl. Each of R¹, R¹′, R² and R²′ mayindependently be H, or a branched or unbranched, substituted orunsubstituted, C₁-C₅ alkyl. Each of R¹, R¹′, R² and R^(2′) mayindependently be H, or a branched or unbranched, substituted orunsubstituted, C₁-C₄ alkyl. Each of R¹, R¹′, R² and R²′ mayindependently be H, or a branched or unbranched, substituted orunsubstituted, C₁-C₃ alkyl. Each of R¹, R¹′, R² and R²′ mayindependently be H, or a branched or unbranched, substituted orunsubstituted, C₁-C₂ alkyl. Each R¹, R¹′, R² and R²′ may be H or CH₃.Each R¹, R¹′, R² and R²′ may be CH₃. Each R¹, R¹′, R² and R²′ may be H.

Each J, J′, J″, and J′″, when present, may independently be H or anamino acid based moiety or a polyethylene glycol based moiety selectedfrom TABLE 1. Alternatively, each J, J′, J″, and J″′, when present, mayindependently be H or an amino acid based moiety selected from TABLE 1.Each J, J′, J″, and J′J″, when present, may independently be an aminoacid based moiety or a polyethylene glycol based moiety selected fromTABLE 1. Alternatively, each J, J′, J″, and when present, mayindependently be an amino acid based moiety selected from TABLE 1. EachJ, J′J″, J″′, when present, may be H. Each J, J′, J″, and J′″, whenpresent, may be

Each L, L′, and L″, when present, may independently be O, NH or N⁺H₂.Each L L′, and L″, when present, may be O or S. Alternatively, each LL′, and L″, when present, may be O.

Each G, G′ and G″ may independently be a branched, unbranched, ornon-aromatic cyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, saturated C₁-C₁₀alkyl. Each G, G′ and G″ may independently be a branched, unbranched, ornon-aromatic cyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, saturated C₁-C₁₀alkyl. Each G, G′ and G″ may independently be a branched, unbranched, ornon-aromatic cyclic, substituted or saturated C₁-C₁₀ alkyl. Each G G′and G″ may independently be a branched, unbranched, or non-aromaticcyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, saturated C₁C₉ alkyl. Each G G′and G″ may independently be a branched, unbranched, or non-aromaticcyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, saturated C₁-C₈ alkyl. Each G G′and G″ may independently be a branched, unbranched, or non-aromaticcyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, saturated C₁-C₇ alkyl. Each G G′and G″ may independently be a branched, unbranched, or non-aromaticcyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, saturated C₁-C₆ alkyl. Each G, G′and G″ may independently be a branched, unbranched, or non-aromaticcyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, saturated C₁-C₅ alkyl. Each G, G′and G″ may independently be a branched, unbranched, or non-aromaticcyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, saturated C₁-C₄ alkyl. Each G, G′and G″ may independently be a branched, unbranched, or non-aromaticcyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, saturated C₁-C₃ alkyl.

An optional substituent, if present, may be selected from the groupconsisting of oxo (i.e. ═O), OJ″′, COOH, R, OH, OR, F, Cl, Br, I, NH₂,NHR, NR₂, CN₂, SH, SR, SO₃H, SO₃R, SO₂R, OSO₃R, and NO₂. An optionalsubstituent, if present, may be selected from the group consisting of:oxo (i.e. ═), OJ′″, COOH, R, OH, OR, F, Cl, Br, I, NH₂, NHR, NR₂, SO₃H,SO₃R, SO₂R, and NO₂. An optional substituent, present, may be selectedfrom the group consisting of: oxo (i.e. ═O), OJ′″, COOH, R, OH, OR, F,Cl, Br, I, NH₂, and NO₂. An optional substituent, if present, may beselected from the group consisting of: oxo (i.e. ═O), OJ′″, COOH, R, OH,OR, F, Cl, Br, and I. An optional substituent, if present, may beselected from the group consisting of: oxo (i.e. ═O), OJ′″, COOH, OH, F,Cl, Br, and I. An optional substituent, if present, may be selected fromthe group consisting of: oxo (i.e. ═O), OJ′″, COOH, OH, F, and Cl. R maybe an unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl. R may be an unsubstituted C₁-C₉ alkyl.R may be an unsubstituted C₁-C₈ alkyl. R may be an unsubstituted C₁-C₇alkyl. R may be an unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl. R may be an anunsubstituted C₁-C₅ alkyl. R may be an unsubstituted C₁-C₄ alkyl. R maybe an unsubstituted C₁-C₃ alkyl. R may be an unsubstituted C₁-C₂ alkyl.R may be an unsubstituted C₁ alkyl.

The compound may be selected from one or more of the following:

The compounds described herein are meant to include all racemic mixturesand all individual enantiomers or combinations thereof, whether or notthey are represented herein. Alternatively, one or more of the OH groupsmay be substituted to replace the H with a moiety selected from TABLE 1.

In accordance with another embodiment, there is provided a compoundhaving the formula:

wherein, J may be a moiety selected from TABLE 1; R¹ and R² may eachindependently be H, or a branched, unbranched, substituted orunsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl or together form a substituted orunsubstituted, saturated, aromatic cyclic or non-aromatic cyclic C₃-C₁₀alkyl; and wherein an optional substituent if present may be selectedfrom the group consisting of: oxo (i.e., ═O), OJ′″, COOH, R, OH, OR, F,Cl, Br, I, NH₂, NHR, NR₂, CN, SH, SR, SO₃H, SO₃R, SO₂R, OSO₃R, and NO₂wherein R may be an unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl.

Alternatively, J may be

and R¹ and R² may each be selected from H and CH₃.

In accordance with another embodiment, there a provided a compoundhaving one or more of the structures:

Alternatively, one or more of the OH groups of the above compounds maybe substituted to replace the H with a moiety selected from TABLE 1.

In accordance with another embodiment, there are provided compoundshaving structures represented by Formula II

wherein each J and J′ may independently be H or a moiety selected fromTABLE 1; each L and L′ may independently be O, S, NH, NG, N⁺H₂ or N⁺HG;each Q and Q′ may independently be G, O, CH₂, CHG, CG₂, S, NH or NG;each Z and Z′ may independently be N, CH, CF, CCl, CI, COH, CG, COG,CNH₂, CNHG, CNG₂, COSO₃H, COPO₃H₂; CSG, CSOG, or CSO₂G; R¹ and R² mayeach independently be H; or a branched or unbranched, unsubstituted orunsubstituted C₂-C₁₀ alkyl or a substituted C₁ alkyl or together form asubstituted or unsubstituted, saturated, aromatic cyclic or non-aromaticcyclic C₃-C₁₀ alkyl; X may be CH₂OG, CH₂OGOG′, CH₂SG, CH₂NH₂, CH₂NHG,CH₂Cl, CH₂I, CH₂Br, CH₂F, or CH₂NG₂; X′ may be H, CH₃, CH₂F, CHF₂, CF₃,CH₂Cl, CHCl₂, CCl₃, CH₂Br, CHBr₂, CBr₃, CH₂I, CHI₂, Cl₃, CH₂F, CHF₂,CF₃, CH₂OJ′″, CH₂OG, CH₂OGOG′, GOG′, GOG′OG″, CH₂SG, CH₂NH₂, CH₂NHG,CH₂NG₂, or

R^(1′) and R^(2′) may each independently be H, or a branched orunbranched, substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, or R^(1′) andR^(2′) together form a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated, aromaticcyclic or non-aromatic cyclic C₃-C₁₀ alky; each J″ and J′″ mayindependently be H or a moiety selected from TABLE 1; L″ may be O, S,NH, NG, N⁺H₂, or N⁺HG; each Z″ may independently be N, CH, CF, CCl, CBr,Cl, COH, CG, COG, CNH₂, CNHG, CNG₂, COSO₃H, COPO₃H₂; CSG, CSOG, orCSO₂G; Q″ may be G, O, CH₂, CHG, CG₂, S, NH or NG; X″ may be H, CH₃,CH₂F, CHF₂, CF₃, CH₂Cl, CHCl₂, CCl₃, CH₂Br, CHBr₂, CBr₃, CH₂OJ′″, G,CH₂OG, CH₂OGOG′, GOG′, GOG′OG″, CH₂SG, CH₂NH₂, CH₂NHG, or CH₂, NG₂; andeach G, G′, and G″ may independently be a branched or unbranched,non-aromatic cyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, saturated C₁-C₁₀alkyl; wherein an optional substituent if present may be selected fromthe group consisting of: oxo (i.e. ═O), OJ′″, COOH, R, OH, OR, F, Cl,Br, I, NH₂, NHR, NR₂, CN, SH, SR, SO₃H, SO₃R, SO₂R, OSO₃R, and NO₂wherein R may be an unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl.

Alternatively, each J and J′ may independently be H or a moiety selectedfrom TABLE 1; each L and L′ may independently be O, S, NH, NG, N⁺H₂ orN⁺HG; each Q and Q′ may independently be G, O, CH₂, CHG, CG₂, S, NH orNG; each Z and Z′ may independently be N, CH, CF, CCl, CBr, CI, COH, CG,COG, CNH₂, CNHG, CNG₂, COSO₃H, COPO₃H₂; CSG, CSOG, or CSO₂G; R¹ and R²may each independently be H; or a branched or unbranched, substituted orunsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl or together form a substituted orunsubstituted, saturated, aromatic cyclic or non-aromatic cyclic C₃-C₁₀alkyl; X may be CH₂OG, CH₂OGOG′, CH₂SG, CH₂SG, CH₂NH₂, CH₂NHG, CH₂I,CH₂Br, or CH₂F; X′ may be H, CH₃, CH₂F, CHF₂, CF₃, CH₂Cl, CHCl₂CCl₃,CH₂Br, CHBr₂, CBr₃, CH₂I, CHI₂, Cl₃, CH₂F, CHF₂, CF₃, CH₂OJ′″, CH₂OG,CH₂OGOG′, GOG′, GOG′OG″, CH₂SG, CH₂NH₂, CH₂NHG, CH₂NG₂, or

R^(1′) and R^(2′) may each independently be H, or a branched orunbranched, substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, or R^(1′) andR^(2′) together form a substituted or unsubstituted, saturated, aromaticcyclic or non-aromatic cyclic C₃-C₁₀ alky; each J″ and J′″ mayindependently be H or a moiety selected from TABLE 1; L″ may be O, S,NH, NG, N⁺H₂, or N⁺HG; each Z″ may independently be N, CH, CF, CCl, CBr,Cl, COH, CG, COG, CNH₂, CNHG, CNG₂, COSO₃H, COPO₃H₂; CSG, CSOG, orCSO₂G; Q″ may be G, O, CH₂, CHG, CG₂, S, NH or NG; X″ may be H, CH₃,CH₂F, CHF₂, CF₃, CH₂Cl, CHCl₂, CCl₃, CH₂Br, CHBr₂, CBr₃, CH₂OJ′″, G,CH₂OG, CH₂OGOG′, GOG′, GOG′OG″, CH₂SG, CH₂NH₂, CH₂NHG, or CH₂, NG₂; andeach G, G′, and G″ may independently be a branched or unbranched,non-aromatic cyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, saturated C₁-C₁₀alkyl; wherein an optional substituent if present may be selected fromthe group consisting of: oxo (i.e. ═O), OJ′″, COOH, R, OH, OR, F, Cl,Br, I, NH₂, NHR, NR₂, CN, SH, SR, SO₃H, SO₃R, SO₂R, OSO₃R, and NO₂wherein R may be an unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl.

In accordance with another embodiment, there is provided apharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to any one ofthe above compounds and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.

In accordance with a further embodiment, there is provided a method ofscreening for androgen receptor modulating compounds therein thecompounds screened are selected from compounds having the Formula III:

wherein Q may be G, O, CH₂, CHG, CG₂, S, NH or NG; each Z mayindependently be N, CH, CF, CCl, CBr, Cl, COH, CG, COG, CNH₂, CNHG,CNG₂, COSO₃H, COPO₃H₂; CSG, CSOG, or CSO₂G; R¹ and R² may eachindependently be H, or a branched or unbranched, substituted orunsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl or together form a substituted orunsubstituted, saturated, aromatic cyclic or non-aromatic cyclic C₃-C₁₀alkyl; each G G′ and G″ may independently be a branched, unbranched, oraromatic cyclic or non-aromatic cyclic, substituted or unsubstituted,saturated or unsaturated C₁-C₁₀ alkyl;M may be selected from the following:

wherein J may be H or a moiety may be selected from TABLE 1; L may be O,S, NH, NG, N⁺H₂, or N⁺HG; X may be H, CH₃, CH₂F, CF₃, CH₂Cl, CHCl₂,CCl₃, CH₂Br, CHBr₂, CBr₃, CH₂I, CHI₂, CI₃, CH₂OJ′″, G, CH₂OG, CH₂OGOG′,GOG′, GOG′OG″, CH₂SG, CH₂NH₂, CH₂NHG, or CH₂NG₂;

R³ may be H, a branched or unbranched, substituted or unsubstitutedC₁-C₁₀ alkyl,

J′ may be H or a moiety selected from TABLE 1; L′ may be O, S, NH, NG,N⁺H₂, or N⁺HG; each Z′ may independently be N, CH, CF, CCl, CBr, CI,COH, CG, COG, CNH₂, CNHG, CNG₂, COSO₃H, COPO₃H₂; CSG, CSOG, or CSO₂G; Q′may be G, O, CH₂, CHG, CG₂, S, NH or NG; X′ may be H, CH₃, CH₂OJ′″, G,CH₂OG, CH₂OGOG′, GOG′, GOG′OG″, CH₂SG, CH₂NH₂, CH₂NHG, CH₂NG₂, or

R^(1′) and R^(2′) may each independently be H, or a branched,unbranched, substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl or together form asubstituted or unsubstituted, saturated, aromatic cyclic or non-aromaticcyclic C₃-C₁₀ alkyl; each J″ and J″′ may independently be H or a moietyselected from TABLE 1; L″ may be O, S, NH, NG, N⁺H₂, or N⁺HG; each Z″may independently be N, CH, CF, CCl, CBr, Cl, COH, CG, COG, CNH₂, CNHG,CNG₂, COSO₃H, COPO₃H₂; CSG, CSOG, or CSO₂G, Q″ may be G, O, CH₂, CHG,CG₂, S, NH or NG; and X″ may be H, CH₃, CH₂F, CHF₂, CF₃, CH₂Cl, CHCl₂,CCl₃, CH₂Br, CHBr₂, CBr₃, CH₂I, CHI₂, CI₃, CH₂OJ′″, G, CH₂OG, CH₂OGOGO′,GOG′, GOG′OG″, CH₂SG, CH₂NH₂, CH₂NHG, or CH₂NG₂; wherein an optionalsubstituent if present may be selected from the group consisting of: oxo(i.e. ═O), OJ′″, COOH, R, OH, OR, F, Cl, Br, I, NH₂, NHR, NR₂, CN, SH,SR, SO₃H, SO₃R, SO₂R, OSO₃R, and NO₂ wherein R may be an unsubstitutedC₁-C₁₀ alkyl.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows that extract PNG 01-185 blocked induction of PSA-luciferase(PSA-luc) activity by forskolin (FSK, 50 μM) and R1881 (1 nM).

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the fractionation of PNG 01-185 compoundsto identify PNG 01-185-17-9.

FIG. 3 shows the effects of fractions of PNG 01-185-17 onARR3-luciferase (ARR3-luc) activity. Fractions 17-3 and 17-8 caused a50% inhibition of ARR3-luc activity.

FIG. 4 shows that the PNG01-185-17-8 fraction inhibited AR-NTDGal4-lucactivity.

FIG. 5 Structural derivative, PNG01-185-17-9-2 (185-9-2) ofPNG01-185-17-8 blocked FSK (50 μM) (left) and interleukin-6 (IL-6, 50ng/ml) (right) induced transactivation of the AR NTD while theantiandrogen bicalutamide (BIC 10 μM) had no effect.

FIG. 6 185-9-2 (5 μg/ml) inhibited AR transcriptional activity inresponse to ligand as measured using the PSA (6.1 kb)-luciferasereporter gene construct that contains numerous well-characterized andfunctional androgen response elements (AREs). Bicalutamide (BIC, 10 μM)was included as a positive control. 185-9-2 does NOT inhibit theactivity of progesterone response element (PRE)-luciferase reporter orglucocorticoid response element (GRE)-luciferase reporter in LNCaP cellsthat were transfected with expression vectors for progesterone receptor(PR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and their relevant reporter geneconstructs (PRE-luc or GRE-luc) and exposed to their respective steroid(10 nM, black bars). White bars represent no steroid (ethanol control).

FIG. 7 PNG01-185-17-9-2 (185-9-2, 5 μg/ml) inhibited endogenous PSA geneexpression (PSA mRNA) induced by R1881 (1 nM) as measured by QRT-PCR.Levels of PSA mRNA were normalized to levels of GADPH mRNA. MNE is themean normalized expression.

FIG. 8 A. ChIP analysis measuring recruitment of AR to the PSA-ARE inthe enhancer region in LNCaP cells treated for 0, 3 hr, 16 hr with DHTwith or without 185-9-2 (B2, 10 μg/ml). B. Levels of AR protein were notdecreased in whole cell extracts from cells treated for 3 or 16 hourswith 185-9-2 (B2). Western blot analysis of levels of AR using anantibody to the androgen receptor. Levels of b-actin protein areincluded as a loading control.

FIG. 9 AR in whole cell lysates from LNCaP cells maintained in vitro for48 hrs with 185-9-2 (B2) in the presence or absence of DHT. Results arefrom 3 separate experiments.

FIG. 10 A. Western blot analyses of levels of AR protein in cytosol ornucleus in LNCaP cells pretreated for 1 hr with 185-9-2 (B2) or DMSO(control) prior to 15, 30, 60, or 120 minutes of treatment with 10 nMDHT. B. Fluorescence microscopy of LNCaP cells transfected with AR-GFPpretreated for 1 hr with 185-9-2 (B2) or DMSO (control) prior toaddition of 10 nM DHT and incubated an additional 2 hours.

FIG. 11 N/C interaction. CV1 cells were transfected with VP16-ARTAD,Gal4-ARLBD, and the Gal4-luciferase reporter and treated with R1881 plusor minus (185-9-2 (10 μg/ml) or bicalutamide (BIC, 10 μM) for 24 hr.

FIG. 12 PNG01-185-17-9-2 (185-9-2) blocked androgen-dependentproliferation of LNCaP cells. LNCaP cells treated with bicalutamide(BIC, 10 μM) or 185-9-2 (5 μg/ml) for 1 hr before the addition of R1881(0.1 nM). Cells were harvested and measured for BrdU incorporation after4 days of treatment with androgen. p=0.0001 between 185-9-2 plus R1881and only R1881-treated.

FIG. 13 PNG01-185-17-9-2 (185-9-2) does NOT block proliferation of PC3cells (p<0.05, t-test). Cells were treated with vehicle (DMSO) or185-9-2 (5 μg/ml) for 3 days before harvesting and measurement of BrdUincorporation. Bars represent the mean±SEM (n=3 separate experimentswith 5 replicates per experiment).

FIG. 14 A. Photographs of a representative harvested LNCaP xenograftsfrom day 25 after the 1^(st) intratumorial (I.T.) injection of eitherDMSO (vehicle) or 185-9-2 in castrated animals. The black bar represents10 mm. B. Time course showing LNCaP xenograft volume over the durationof the experiment. 185-9-2 reduced the size of the tumors (n=10) whileDMSO-treated tumors continued to grow (n=9). Tumor volume at the firstinjection was set to 100%. Solid line represents DMSO-treated and dashedline represents 185-9-2 treated animals. C. 185-9-2 did not reduce bodyweight. Body weight measured at day 0 and at the end of the experimentat day 25 in mice bearing LNCaP xenografts receiving vehicle or smallmolecule.

FIG. 15 A. Time course comparing intravenous (I.V.) injection of 185-9-2(B2) versus intratumorial (I.T.) injection of 185-9-2 and BADGE.2HCl(B3, I.T. injection of 20 mg/kg body weight every 5 days, n=3 for eachgroup) on LNCaP xenograft volume over for the duration of theexperiments. 185-9-2 (B2) and BADGE.2HCl (B3) reduced the size of thetumors while DMSO-treated tumors continued to grow. Tumor volume at thefirst injection was set to 100%. B. Photographs of a representativeharvested LNCaP xenografts from animals injected intravenously withcontrol (DMSO vehicle) or 185-9-2 (50 mg/kg body weight every other day)in castrated animals 2 days after the last injection. The black barrepresents 10 mm. Staining of sections of the shown tumor with TUNEL asan indication of apoptosis, or Ki67 as a marker of proliferation. C.Intravenous injection (I.V.) of 185-9-2 did not reduce body weight.

FIG. 16 Histology of major organs harvested from animals injected I.V.(see FIG. 15) with 185-9-2 (50 mg/kg body weight) every other day for atotal of 5 injections. Xenografts were harvested 2 days after the lastI.V. injection and stained with H&E. DMSO is the vehicle control thatwas also administered by I.V.

FIG. 17 In vivo, 185-9-2 does not reduce levels of AR protein. A.Xenografts were harvested from animals injected I.V. with 185-9-2 orDMSO (see FIG. 15) and sections were stained for AR using a monoclonalantibody to the NTD. B. Western blot analyses of levels of AR protein inwhole cell lysates prepared from xenografts harvested at day 25 fromanimals injected I.T. with 185-9-2 (see FIG. 14). Lane 1 and 2 arexenografts from 2 different animals treated with DMSO (Control 1 and 2).Lane 3 and 4 are xenografts from 2 different animals treated with185-9-2 (B2-1 and B2-2). Blots were also stained for cytokeratin 18, amarker of epithelial cells.

FIG. 18 illustrates that 185-9-2 decreased levels of vascularendothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein in LNCaP xenografts harvestedat day 25 from castrated hosts. VEGF is an important growth factorinvolved in angiogenesis. The left column shows staining of a xenografttreated with vehicle control.

FIG. 19. A. Photographs of a representative harvested PC3 xenograftsfrom day 25 after the 1^(st) intratumorial (I.T.) injection of eitherDMSO (vehicle) or 185-9-2 (20 mg/kg body weight) in non-castratedanimals. The black bar represents 10 mm. B. PNG01-185-017-9-2 had asmall effect on PC3 tumor growth but did not reduce tumor burden. Timecourse showing PC3 xenograft volume over for the duration of theexperiment. Tumor volume at the first injection was set to 100%. Solidline represents DMSO-treated and dashed line represents 185-9-2-treatedanimals. C. 185-9-2 did not reduce body weight. Body weight measured atday 0 and at the end of the experiment at day 25 in mice bearing PC3xenografts receiving vehicle or small molecule.

FIG. 20 Glycine ester of the BADGE-HCL.H2O (A) was tested in LNCaP cellstransfected with an expression vector for the Gal4DBD-AR₁₋₅₅₈ chimeraprotein with a reporter gene containing the Gal4-binding site ascis-acting elements (p5xGal4UAS-TATA-luciferase) (B). The glycine ester,Gly-B2-HCl of 185-9-2 (25 μM) blocked IL-6 (50 ng/ml) inducedtransactivation of the AR NTD.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the phrase “C_(x)-C_(y) alkyl” is used as it is normallyunderstood to a person of skill in the art and often refers to achemical entity that has a carbon skeleton or main carbon chaincomprising a number from x to y (with all individual integers with therange included, including integers x and y) of carbon atoms. For examplea “C₁-C₁₀ alkyl” is a chemical entity that has 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9or 10 carbon atom(s) in its carbon skeleton or main chain.

As used herein, the term “cyclic C_(x)-C_(y) alkyl” is used as it isnormally understood to a person of skill in the art and often refers toa compound or a chemical entity in which at least a portion of thecarbon skeleton or main chain of the chemical entity is bonded in such away so as to form a ‘loop’, circle or ring of atoms that are bondedtogether. The atoms do not have to all be directly bonded to each other,but rather may be directly bonded to as few as two other atoms in the‘loop’. Non-limiting examples of cyclic alkyls include benzene, toluene,cyclopentane, bisphenol and 1-chloro-3-ethylcyclohexane.

As used herein, the term “branched” is used as it is normally understoodto a person of skill in the art and often refers to a chemical entitythat comprises a skeleton or main chain that splits off into more thanone contiguous chain. The portions of the skeleton or main chain thatsplit off in more than one direction may be linear, cyclic or anycombinations thereof. Non-limiting examples of a branched alkyl aretert-butyl and isopropyl.

As used herein, the term “unbranched” is used as it is normallyunderstood to a person of skill in the art and often refers to achemical entity that comprises a skeleton or main chain that does notsplit off into more that one contiguous chain. Non-limiting examples ofunbranched alkyls are methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, and n-butyl.

As used herein, the term “substituted” is used as it is normallyunderstood to a person of skill in the art and often refers to achemical entity that has one chemical group replaced with a differentchemical group that one or more heteroatoms. Unless otherwise specified,a substituted alkyl is an alkyl in which each one or more hydrogenatom(s) is/are replaced with one or more atom(s) that is/are nothydrogen(s). For example, chloromethyl is a non-limiting example of asubstituted alkyl, more particularly an example of a substituted methyl.Aminoethyl is another non-limiting example of a substituted alkyl, moreparticularly it is a substituted ethyl.

As used herein, the term “unsubstituted” is used as it is normallyunderstood to a person of skill in the art and often refers to achemical entity by that is a hydrocarbon and/or does not contain aheteroatom. Non-limiting examples of unsubstituted alkyls includemethyl, ethyl, tert-butyl, and pentyl.

As used herein, the term “saturated” when referring to a chemical entityis used as it is normally understood to a person of skill in the art andoften refers to a chemical entity that comprises only single bonds.Non-limiting examples of saturated chemical entities include ethane,tert-butyl, and N⁺H₃.

As used herein, C₁-C₁₀ alkyl may include, for example, and withoutlimitation, saturated C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, C₂-C₁₀ alkenyl and C₂-C₁₀ alkynyl.Non-limiting examples of saturated C₁-C₁₀ alkyl may include methyl,ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, sec-propyl, n-butyl, i-butyl, sec-butyl,t-butyl, n-penthyl, i-pentyl sec-pentyl, t-pentyl, n-hexyl, i-hexyl,1,2-dimethylpropyl, 2-ethylpropyl, 1-methyl-2-ethylpropyl,1-ethyl-2-methylpropyl, 1,1,2-trimethylpropyl, 1,1,2-triethylpropyl,1,1-dimethylbutyl, 2,2-dimethylbutyl, 2-ethylbutyl, 1,3-dimethylbutyl,2-methylpentyl, 3-methylpentyl, sec-hexyl, t-hexyl, n-heptyl, i-heptyl,sec-heptyl, t-heptyl, n-octyl, i-octyl sec-octyl, t-octyl, n-nonyl,i-nonyl, sec-nonyl, t-nonyl, n-decyl, i-decyl, sec-decyl and t-decyl.Non-limiting examples of C₂-C₁₀ alkenyl may include vinyl, allyl,isopropenyl, 1-propene-2-yl, 1-butene-1-yl, 1-butene-2-yl,1-butene-3-yl, 2-butene-1-yl, 2-butene-2-yl, octenyl and decenyl.Non-lmiting examples of C₂-C₁₀ alkynyl may include ethynyl, propynyl,butynyl, pentynyl, hexynyl, heptynyl, octynyl, nonynyl and decynyl.Saturated C₁-C₁₀ alkyl, C₂-C₁₀ alkenyl or C₂-C₁₀ alkynyl may be, forexample, and without limitation, interrupted by one or more heteroatomswhich are independently nitrogen, sulfur or oxygen.

As used herein, cyclic C₃-C₁₀ alkyl may include, for example, andwithout limitation, saturated C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkenyl,C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkynyl, C₆-C₁₀ aryl, C₆₋₉ aryl-C₁₋₄ alkyl, C₆₋₈ aryl-C₂₋₄alkenyl, C₆₋₈ aryl-C₂₋₄ alkynyl, a 4- to 10-membered non-aromaticheterocyclic group containing one or more heteroatoms which areindependently nitrogen, sulfur or oxygen, and a 5- to 10-memberedaromatic heterocyclic group containing one or more heteroatoms which areindependently nitrogen, sulfur or oxygen. Non-limiting examples of thesaturated C₃-C₁₀ cycloalkyl group may include cyclopropanyl,cyclobutanyl, cyclopentanyl, cyclohexanyl, cycloheptanyl, cyclooctanyl,cyclononanyl and cyclodecanyl. Non-limiting examples of the C₃-C₁₀cycloalkenyl group may include cyclopropenyl and cyclodecanenyl.Non-limiting examples of the C₆-C₁₀ aryl group may include phenyl (Ph),pentalenyl, indenyl, naphthyl, and azulenyl. The C₆₋₉ aryl-C₁₋₄ alkylgroup may be, for example, and without limitation, a C₁₋₄ alkyl group asdefined anywhere above having a C₆₋₉ aryl group as defined anywhereabove as a substituent. The C₆₋₈ aryl-C₂₋₄ alkenyl group may be, forexample, and without limitation, a C₂₋₄ alkenyl as defined anywhereabove having a C₆₋₈ aryl group as defined anywhere above as asubstituent. The C₆₋₈ aryl-C₂₋₄ alkynyl group may be, for example, andwithout limitation, a C₂₋₄ alkynyl group as defined anywhere abovehaving a C₆₋₈ aryl group as defined anywhere above as a substituent.Non-limiting examples of the 4- to 10-membered non-aromatic heterocyclicgroup containing one or more heteroatoms which are independentlynitrogen, sulfur or oxygen may include pyrrolidinyl, pyrrolinyl,piperidinyl, piperazinyl, imidazolinyl, pyrazolidinyl, imidazolydinyl,morpholinyl, tetrahydropyranyl, azetidinyl, oxetanyl, oxathiolanyl,phthalimide and succinimide. Non-limiting examples of the 5- to10-membered aromatic heterocyclic group containing one or moreheteroatoms which are independently nitrogen, sulfur or oxygen mayinclude pyrrolyl, pyridinyl, pyridazinyl, pyrimidinyl, pirazinyl,imidazolyl, thiazolyl and oxazolyl.

Each of C₁-C₁₀ alkyl and cyclic C₃-C₁₀ alkyl may be unsubstituted orsubstituted with one or more substituents independently selected fromthe group consisting of: oxo (═O), OJ′″, COOH, R, OH, OR, F, Cl, Br, I,NH₂NHR, NR₂, CN, SH, SR, SO₃H, SO₃R, SO₂R, OSO₃R, and NO₂ wherein R isan unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl. Furthermore, the one or or moresubstituents may be independently selected from the group consisting of:oxo (═O), OJ′″, COOH, OH, F, Cl, Br, I. Furthermore, the one or moresubstituents may be independently selected from the group consisting of:oxo (═O), OH, F, Cl, Br, and I. Furthermore, the one or moresubstituents may be independently selected from the group consisting of:oxo (═O), and OH. Furthermore, R may be an unsubstituted C₁-C₅ alkyl.Each of C₁-C₁₀ alkyl and cyclic C₃-C₁₀ alkyl may be substituted with,for example, and without limitation, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 substituents.

As used herein, the symbol

(hereinafter may be referred to as “a point of attachment bond”) denotesa bond that is a point of attachment between two chemical entities, oneof which is depicted as being attached to the point of attachment bondand the other of which is not depicted as being attached to the point ofattachment bond. For example,

indicates that the chemical entity “XY” is bonded to another chemicalentity via the point of attachment bond. Furthermore, the specific pointof attachment to the non-depicted chemical entity may be specified byinference. For example The compound CH₃—R³, wherein R³ is H or

infers that when R³ is “XY”, the point of attachment bond is the samebond as the bond by which R³ is depicted as being bonded to CH₃.

As used herein, the term “moiety” refers to a moiety set out in thefollowing Table 1.

TABLE 1 MOIETIES Amino Acid Based Moieties

Polyethylene Glycol Based Moieties

Phosphate Based Moieties

Moieties may be, for example, and without limitation, subdivided intothree groups: 1) amino acid based moieties; 2) polyethylene glycol basedmoieties; and 3) phosphate based moieties. In the Moieties Table 1above, the first four moieties are amino acid based moieties, the fifthand sixth are polyethylene glycol based moieties and the remainingmoieties are phosphate based moieties.

The amino acid side chains of naturally occurring amino acids (as oftendenoted herein using “(aa)”) are well known to a person of skill in theart and may be found in a variety of text books such as “Molecular CellBiology” by James Darnell et al. Third Edition, published by ScientificAmerican Books in 1995. Often the naturally occurring amino acids arerepresented by the formula (NH₂)C(COOH)(H)(R), where the chemical groupsin brackets are each bonded to the carbon not in brackets. R representsthe side chains in this particular formula.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the point of covalentattachment of the moiety to the compounds as described herein may be,for example, and without limitation, cleaved under specified conditions.Specified conditions may include, for example, and without limitation,in vivo enzymatic or non-enzymatic means. Cleavage of the moiety mayoccur, for example, and without limitation, spontaneously, or it may becatalyzed, induced by another agent, or a change in a physical parameteror environmental parameter, for example, an enzyme, light, acidtemperature or pH. The moiety may be, for example, and withoutlimitation, a protecting group that acts to mask a functional group, agroup that acts as a substrate for one or more active or passivetransport mechanisms, or a group that acts to impart or enhance aproperty of the compound, for example, solubility, bioavailability orlocalization.

In other particular embodiments of Formula I and Formula II above, thefollowing compounds in Table 2 are provided:

TABLE 2

Methods of preparing or synthesizing compounds of the present inventionmay also be understood by a person of skill in the art having referenceto known chemical synthesis principles. For example, Auzou et al 1974European Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 9(5), 548-554 describes suitablesynthetic procedures that may be considered and suitably adapted forpreparing compounds of Formula I or Formula II. Other references thatmay be helpful in the preparation of compounds of Formula I or FormulaII include: Debasish Das, Jyh-Fu Lee and Soofin Cheng “Sulfonic acidfunctionalized mesoporous MCM-41 silica as a convenient catalyst forBisphenol-A synthesis” Chemical Communications, (2001) 2178-2179; U.S.Pat. No. 2,571,217 Davis, Orris L.; Knight, Horace S.; Skinner, John R.(Shell Development Co.) “Halohydrin ethers of phenols.” (1951); andRokicki, G.; Pawlicki, J.; Kuran, W. “Reactions of4-chloromethyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-one with phenols as a new route to polyolsand cyclic carbonates.” Journal fuer Prakische Chemie (Leipzig) (1985)327, 718-722.

The chemical preparation of compounds of Formula I and Formula II isdescribed below in the Examples and by the following non-limitingexemplary synthetic scheme.

In the above scheme R and R′ may be, for example, and withoutlimitation, independently selected from the group consisting of H, Me oralkyl.

Compounds falling within the scope of the claims may be prepared by thefollowing exemplary reaction.

A person of skill in the art will be able to modify the syntheticapproaches described herein, in combination with or not in combinationwith the isolation techniques described herein to prepare the Compoundsof Formula I and Formula II.

In some embodiments, compounds of Formula I or Formula II above may beused for systemic treatment of at least one indication selected from thegroup consisting of: prostate cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer,endometrial cancer, hair loss, acne, hirsutism, ovarian cysts,polycystic ovary disease, precocious puberty and age-related maculardegeneration. In some embodiments compounds of Formula I or Formula IImay be used in the preparation of a medicament or a composition for asystemic treatment of an indication described herein. In someembodiments, methods of systemically treating any of the indicationsdescribed herein are also provided.

Compounds as described herein may be in the free form or in the form ofa salt thereof. In some embodiment, compounds as described herein may bein the form of a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, which are known inthe art (Berge et al., J. Pharm. Sci. 1977, 66, 1). Pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt as used herein includes for example, salts that have thedesired pharmacological activity of the parent compound (salts whichretain the biological effectiveness and/or properties of the parentcompound and which are not biologically and/or otherwise undesirable).Compounds as described herein having one or more functional groupscapable of forming a salt may be, for example, formed as apharmaceutically acceptable salt. Compounds containing one or more basicfunctional groups may be capable of forming a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt with, for example, a pharmaceutically acceptable organicor inorganic acid. Pharmaceutically acceptable salts may be derivedfrom, for example, and without limitation, acetic acid, adipic acid,alginic acid, aspartic acid, ascorbic acid, benzoic acid,benzenesulfonic acid, butyric acid, cinnamic acid, citric acid,camphoric acid, camphorsulfonic acid, cyclopentanepropionic acid,diethylacetic acid, digluconic acid, dodecylsulfonic acid,ethanesulfonic acid, formic acid, fumaric acid, glucoheptanoic acid,gluconic acid, glycerophosphoric acid, glycolic acid, hemisulfonic acid,heptanoic acid, hexanoic acid, hydrochoric acid, hydrobromic acid,hydriodic acid, 2-hydroxyethanesulfonic acid, isonicotinic acid, lacticacid, malic acid, maleic acid, malonic acid, mandelic acid,methanesulfonic acid, 2-naphtalenesulfonic acid, naphthalenedisulphonicacid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, nicotinic acid, nitric acid, oxalic acid,pamoic acid, pectinic acid, 3-phenyl propionic acid, phosphoric acid,picric acid, pimelic acid, pivalic acid, propionic acid, pyruvic acid,salicylic acid, succinic acid, sulfuric acid, sulfamic acid, tartaricacid, thiocyanic acid or undecanoic acid. Compounds containing one ormore acidic functional groups may be capable of forming pharmaceuticallyacceptable salts with a pharmaceutically acceptable base, for example,and without limitation, inorganic bases based on alkaline metals oralkaline earth metals or organic bases such as primary amine compounds,secondary amine compounds, tertiary amine compounds, quarternary aminecompounds, substituted amines, naturally occurring substituted amines,cyclic amines or basic ion-exchange resins. Pharmaceutically acceptablesalts may be derived from, for example, and without limitation, ahydroxide, carbonate, or bicarbonate of a pharmaceutically acceptablemetal cation such as ammonium, sodium, potassium, lithium, calcium,magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, manganese or aluminum, ammonia,benzathine, meglumine, methylamine, dimethylamine, trimethylamine,ethylamine, diethylamine, triethylamine, isopropylamine, tripropylamine,tributylamine, ethanolamine, diethanolamine, 2-dimethylaminoethanol,2-diethylaminoethanol, dicyclohexylamine, lysine, arginine, histidine,caffeine, hydrabamine, choline, betaine, ethylenediamine, glucosamine,glucamine, methylglucamine, theobromine, purines, piperazine,piperidine, procaine, N-ethylpiperidine, theobromine,tetramethylammonium compounds, tetraethylammonium compounds, pyridine,N,N-dimethylaniline, N-methylpiperdine, morpholine, N-methylmorpholine,N-ethylmorpholine, dicyclohexylamine, dibenzylamine,N,N-dibenzylphenethlamine, 1-ephenamine, N,N′-dibenzylethylenediamine orpolyamine resins. In some embodiments, compounds as described herein maycontain both acidic and basic groups may be in the form of inner saltsor zwitterions, for example, and without limitation, betaines. Salts asdescribed herein may be prepared by conventional processes known to aperson skilled in the art, for example, and without limitation, byreacting the free form with an organic acid or inorganic acid or base,or by anion exchange or cation exchange from other salts. Those skilledin the art will appreciate that preparation of salts may occur in situduring isolation and purification of the compounds or preparation ofsalts may occur by separately reacting an isolated and purifiedcompound.

In some embodiments, compounds and all different forms thereof (e.g.free forms, salts, polymorphs, isomeric forms) as described herein maybe in the solvent addition form, for example, solvates. Solvates containeither stoichiometric or non-stoichiometric amounts of a solvent inphysical association the compound or salt thereof. The solvent may be,for example, and without limitation, a pharmaceutically acceptablesolvent. For example, hydrates are formed when the solvent is water oralcoholates are formed when the solvent is an alcohol.

In some embodiments, compounds and all different forms thereof (e.g.free forms, salts, solvates, isomeric forms) as described herein mayinclude crystalline and amorphous forms, for example, polymorphs,pseudopolymorphs, conformational polymorphs, amorphous forms, or acombination thereof. Polymorphs include different crystal packingarrangements of the same elemental composition of a compound. Polymorphsusually have different X-ray diffraction patterns, infrared spectra,melting points, density, hardness, crystal shape, optical and electricalproperties stability and/or solubility. Those skilled in the art willappreciate that various factors including recrystallization solvent,rate of crystallization and storage temperature may cause a singlecrystal form to dominate.

In some embodiments, compounds and all different forms thereof (e.g.free forms, salts, solvates, polymorphs) as described herein includeisomers such as geometrical isomers, optical isomers based on asymmetriccarbon, stereoisomers, tautomers, individual enantiomers, individualdiasteromers, racemates, diastereomeric mixtures and combinationsthereof, and are not limited by the description of the formulaillustrated for the sake of convenience.

In some embodiments, pharmaceutical compositions in accordance with thisinvention may comprise a salt of such a compound, preferably apharmaceutically or physiologically acceptable salt. Pharmaceuticalpreparations will typically comprise one or more carriers, excipients ordiluents acceptable for the mode of administration of the preparation,be it by injection, inhalation, topical administration, lavage, or othermodes suitable for the selected treatment. Suitable carriers, excipientsor diluents are those known in the art for use in such modes ofadministration.

Suitable pharmaceutical compositions may be formulated by means known inthe art and their mode of administration and dose determined by theskilled practitioner. For parenteral administration, a compound may bedissolved in sterile water or saline or a pharmaceutically acceptablevehicle used for administration of non-water soluble compounds such asthose used for vitamin K. For enteral administration, the compound maybe administered in a tablet, capsule or dissolved in liquid form. Thetablet or capsule may be enteric coated, or in a formulation forsustained release. Many suitable formulations are known, including,polymeric or protein microparticles encapsulating a compound to bereleased, ointments, pastes, gels, hydrogels, or solutions which can beused topically or locally to administer a compound. A sustained releasepatch or implant may be employed to provide release over a prolongedperiod of time. Many techniques known to one of skill in the art aredescribed in Remington: the Science & Practice of Pharmacy by AlfonsoGennaro, 20^(th) ed. Lippencott Williams & Wilkins, (2000). Formulationsfor parenteral administration may, for example, contain excipients,polyalkylene glycols such as polyethylene glycol, oils of vegetableorigin, or hydrogenated naphthalenes. Biocompatible, biodegradablelactide polymer, lactide/glycolide copolymer, orpolyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene copolymers may be used to control therelease of the compounds. Other potentially useful parenteral deliverysystems for modulatory compounds include ethylene-vinyl acetatecopolymer particles, osmotic pumps, implantable infusion systems, andliposomes. Formulations for inhalation may contain excipients, forexample, lactose, or may be aqueous solutions containing, for example,polyoxyethylene-9-lauryl ether, glycocholate and deoxycholate, or may beoily solutions for administration in the form of nasal drops, or as agel.

Compounds or pharmaceutical compositions in accordance with thisinvention or for use in this invention may be administered by means of amedical device or appliance such as an implant, graft, prosthesis,stent, etc. Also, implants may be devised which are intended to containand release such compounds or compositions. An example would be animplant made of a polymeric material adapted to release the compoundover a period of time.

An “effective amount” of a pharmaceutical composition according to theinvention includes a therapeutically effective amount or aprophylactically effective amount. A “therapeutically effective amount”refers to an amount effective, at dosages and for periods of timenecessary, to achieve the desired therapeutic result, such as reducedtumor size, increased life span or increased life expectancy. Atherapeutically effective amount of a compound may vary according tofactors such as the disease state, age, sex, and weight of thesubjected, and the ability of the compound to elicit a desired responsein the subject. Dosage regimens may be adjusted to provide the optimumtherapeutic response. A therapeutically effective amount is also one inwhich any toxic or detrimental effects of the compound are outweighed bythe therapeutically beneficial effects. A “prophylactically effectiveamount” refers to an amount effective, at dosages and for periods oftime necessary, to achieve the desired prophylactic result, such assmaller tumors, increased life span, increased life expectancy orprevention of the progression of prostate cancer to anandrogen-independent form. Typically, a prophylactic dose is used insubjects prior to or at an earlier stage of disease, so that aprophylactically effective amount may be less than a therapeuticallyeffective amount.

It is to be noted that dosage values may vary with the severity of thecondition to be alleviated. For any particular subject, specific dosageregimens may be adjusted over time according to the individual need andthe professional judgement of the person administering or supervisingthe administration of the compositions. Dosage ranges set forth hereinare exemplary only and do not limit the dosage ranges that may beselected by medical practitioners. The amount of active compound(s) inthe composition may vary according to factors such as the disease state,age, sex, and weight of the subject. Dosage regimens may be adjusted toprovide the optimum therapeutic response. For example, a single bolusmay be administered, several divided doses may be administered over timeor the dose may be proportionally reduced or increased as indicated bythe exigencies of the therapeutic situation. It may be advantageous toformulate parenteral compositions in dosage unit form for ease ofadministration and uniformity of dosage.

In some embodiments, compounds and all different forms thereof asdescribed herein may be used, for example, and without limitation, incombination with other treatment methods for at least one indicationselected from the group consisting of: prostate cancer, breast cancer,ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, hair loss, acne, hirsutism, ovariancysts, polycystic ovary disease, precocious puberty and age-relatedmacular degeneration. For example, compounds and all their differentforms as described herein may be used as neoadjuvant (prior), adjunctive(during), and/or adjuvant (after) therapy with surgery, radiation(brachytherapy or external beam), or other therapies (eg. HIFU).

In general, compounds of the invention should be used without causingsubstantial toxicity. Toxicity of the compounds of the invention can bedetermined using standard techniques, for example, by testing in cellcultures or experimental animals and determining the therapeutic index,i.e., the ratio between the LD50 (the dose lethal to 50% of thepopulation) and the LD100 (the dose lethal to 100% of the population).In some circumstances however, such as in severe disease conditions, itmay be necessary to administer substantial excesses of the compositions.Some compounds of this invention may be toxic at some concentrations.Titration studies may be used to determine toxic and non-toxicconcentrations. Toxicity may be evaluated by examining a particularcompound's or composition's specificity across cell lines using PC3cells as a negative control that do not express AR. Animal studies maybe used to provide an indication if the compound has any effects onother tissues. Systemic therapy that targets the AR will not likelycause major problems to other tissues since antiandrogens and androgeninsensitivity syndrome are not fatal.

Compounds as described herein may be administered to a subject. As usedherein, a “subject” may be a human, non-human primate, rat, mouse, cow,horse, pig, sheep, goat, dog, cat, etc. The subject may be suspected ofhaving or at risk for having a cancer, such as prostate cancer, breastcancer, ovarian cancer or endometrial cancer, or suspected of having orat risk for having acne, hirsutism, alopecia, benign prostatichyperplasia, ovarian cysts, polycystic ovary disease, precociouspuberty, or age-related macular degeneration. Diagnostic methods forvarious cancers, such as prostate cancer, breast cancer, ovarian canceror endometrial cancer, and diagnostic methods for acne, hirsutism,alopecia, benign prostatic hyperplasia, ovarian cysts, polycystic ovarydisease, precocious puberty, or age-related macular degeneration and theclinical delineation of cancer, such as prostate cancer, breast cancer,ovarian cancer or endometrial cancer, diagnoses and the clinicaldelineation of acne, hirsutism, alopecia, benign prostatic hyperplasia,ovarian cysts, polycystic ovary disease, precocious puberty, orage-related macular degeneration are known to those of ordinary skill inthe art.

Definitions used include ligand-dependent activation of the androgenreceptor (AR) by androgens such as dihydrotestosterone (DHT) or thesynthetic androgen (R1881) used for research purposes.Ligand-independent activation of the AR refers to transactivation of theAR in the absence of androgen (ligand) by, for example, stimulation ofthe cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) pathway with forskolin (FSK).Some compounds and compositions of this invention may inhibit both FSKand R1881 induction of ARE-luciferase (ARE-luc) (See Example 1). Suchcompounds may block a mechanism that is common to both ligand-dependentand ligand-independent activation of the AR. This could involve any stepin activation of the AR including dissociation of heatshock proteins,essential posttranslational modifications (e.g., acetylation,phosphorylation), nuclear translocation, protein-protein interactions,formation of the transcriptional complex, release of co-repressors,and/or increased degradation.

Some compounds and compositions of this invention may inhibit R1881 onlyand may interfere with a mechanism specific to ligand-dependentactivation (e.g., accessibility of the ligand binding domain (LBD) toandrogen). Numerous disorders in addition to prostate cancer involve theandrogen axis (e.g., acne, hirsutism, alopecia, benign prostatichyperplasia) and compounds interfering with this mechanism may be usedto treat such conditions.

Some compounds and compositions of this invention may only inhibit FSKinduction and may be specific inhibitors to ligand-independentactivation of the AR. These compounds and compositions may interferewith the cascade of events that normally occur with FSK and/or PKAactivity or any downstream effects that may play a role on the AR (e.g.FSK increases MAPK activity which has a potent effect on AR activity).Examples may include an inhibitor of cAMP and or PKA or other kinases.

Some compounds and compositions of this invention may induce basallevels of activity of the AR (no androgen or stimulation of this PKApathway).

Some compounds and compositions of this invention may increase inductionby R1881 or FSK. Such compounds and compositions may stimulatetranscription or transactivation of the AR.

Some compounds and compositions of this invention may inhibit activityof the androgen receptor N-terminal domain (AR-NTD). Interleukin-6(IL-6) also causes ligand-independent activation of the AR in LNCaPcells and can be used in addition to FSK.

Compounds and compositions of this invention may interact with theAR-NTD or with another protein required for transactivation of theAR-NTD.

Various alternative embodiments and examples of the invention aredescribed herein. These embodiments and examples are illustrative andshould not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLES General Methodologies Cell Lines, Androgen and Reporters

LNCaP cells were employed initially for all experiments because they arewell-differentiated human prostate cancer cells in whichligand-independent activation of the AR by FSK has been characterized(Nazareth et al 1996 J. Biol. Chem. 271, 19900-19907; and Sadar 1999 J.Biol. Chem. 274, 7777-7783). LNCaP cells express endogenous AR andsecrete prostate-specific antigen (PSA) (Horoszewicz et al 1983 CancerRes. 43, 1809-1818). LNCaP cells can be grown either as monolayers incell culture or as tumors in the well-characterized xenograft model thatprogresses to androgen independence in castrated hosts (Sat et al 1996J. Steroid Biochem. Mol. Biol. 58, 139-146; Gleave et al 1991 CancerRes. 51, 3753-3761; Sato et al 1997 Cancer Res. 57, 1584-1589; and Sadaret al 2002 Mol. Cancer Ther. 1(8), 629-637). PC3 human prostate cancercells do not express functional AR (Kaighn et al 1978 Natl. Cancer Inst.Monogr. 49, 17-21) and were used to test specificity of compound for theAR. Small molecules that specifically target the AR-NTD should have noeffect on PC3 cells. This means that they should not alter theproliferation of PC3 cells if they specifically block the AR to mediatetheir inhibitory effects. R1881 was employed since it is stable andavoids problems associated with the labile physiological liganddihydrotestosterone (DHT). Reporter specificity may be determined usingseveral alternative reporter gene constructs. Some well characterizedARE-driven reporter gene constructs that have been used extensively arethe PSA (6.1 kb) enhance/promoter which contains several AREs and ishighly inducible by androgens as well as by FSK (Ueda et al 2002 A J.Biol. Chem. 277, 7076-7085) and the ARR3-thymidine kinase(tk)-luciferase, which is an artificial reporter construct that containsthree tandem repeats of the rat probasin ARE1 and ARE2 regions upstreamof a luciferase reporter (Snoek et al 1996 J. Steroid Biochem. Mol.Biol. 59, 243-250). CMV-luc (no ARERs and is constitutively active) wasemployed to determine that a compound does not have a general inhibitoryeffect on transcription.

Animal Models

Some experiments involved the use of SCID mice. SCID mice were chosenbecause the human cell lines and transplantable tumors survive inimmunocompromised animals and SCID mice show the best take rates. Allprocedures have been approved by the University of British ColumbiaCommittee for Animal Ethics and are annually reviewed. In the event ofan emergency where proper animal care can not be provided, animals areeuthanized at the discretion of the veterinarians or Animal Care Team.Veterinarians are responsible for inspections and consultation. Thesigned Animal Care Certificate specifically states, “The Animal CareCommittee has examined and approved the use of animals for the aboveexperimental project or teaching course, and have been given anassurance that the animals involved will be cared for in accordance withthe principles contained in Care of Experimental Animals—A Guide forCanada, published by the Canadian Council on Animal Care.”

Subcutaneous Xenografts

Six to eight-week old male athymic SCID mice were inoculatedsubcutaneously in the flank region via a 27-gauge needle with a 150 μlsuspension of LNCaP or PC3 human prostate cancer cells (1×10⁶ cells).The inoculations took place while the animal was under isofluoraneanaesthesia. The tumor take rate is approximately 75%. Mice bearingtumors of 100 mm³ were randomly assigned to treatment groups. Castrationwas performed as described below. Tumor volume (formula: L×W×H×0.5236)was measured in mice hearing LNCaP subcutaneous tumors that becamepalpable or visible and at least 40 mm³. The animals were monitoreddairy and tumors were measured every 5 days.

Duration of Experiments

Assessment of minor volume (not to exceed 1000 mm³) was the criteria todetermine termination of subcutaneous xenograft experiments.

Histology and Immunohistochemistry

For routine histology, major organs and xenografts were harvested uponcompletion of the experiment and were fixed in 10% neutral bufferedformalin and then embedded in paraffin. Fixed sections were cut andstained with H&E. To determine possible effects of compounds on theproliferation rates arid apoptosis in xenografts, Ki-67 immunostainingand the TUNEL assay was performed. Ki-67 immunostaining used the MIB-1monoclonal antibody at an IgG concentration of 0.5 μg/ml (1:50) onprocessed tissue sections. Levels of AR were determined byimmunohistochemistry or Western blot analysis.

Androgen Withdrawal to Induce Progression

Androgen withdrawal was completed by castration. Under isofluraneanaesthesia, a 5 mm vertical incision was used to gently withdraw theepididymal fat pad, to which the testis were attached, and to remote thetestis from body. The cord connecting the testis to the blood supply wasligated with a suture, then cut. The cord was then returned to theabdominal cavity. Surgical suture was used to close the incision. Torelieve pain, buprenorphine (0.05 mg/kg) was injected prior to surgery.

Xenograft and Organ Retrieval

All xenografts and major organs were retrieved for analyses. Retrievalwas performed after sacrifice by cardiac arrest by CO₂ gas and thexenografts or organs were removed for immunohistochemistry analysis.

Euthanasia

Animals were sacrificed by cardiac arrest by CO₂ gas. This method is thepolicy set by the Animal Care Committee and is environmentallysensitive, effective, economic, and ethically approved.

Chemical Synthesis

All reactions were performed in flame-dried round bottomed flasks. Theflasks were fitted with rubber septa and reactions were conducted undera positive pressure of argon unless otherwise specified. Stainless steelsyringes were used to transfer air- and moisture-sensitive liquids.Flash column chromatography was performed as described by Still et al.(Still, W. C., Kahn, M., Mitra, A., J. Org. Chem. 1978, 43, 2923) using230-400 mesh silica gel. Thin-layer chromatography was performed usingaluminium plates pre-coated with 0.25 mm 230-400 mesh silica gelimpregnated with a fluorescent indicator (254 nm). Thin-layerchromatography plates were visualized by exposure to ultraviolet lightand a solution of p-anisaldehyde (1% p-anisaldehyde, 2% H₂SO₄, 20%acetic acid and 77% ethanol) followed by heating (˜1 min) with a heatinggun (˜250° C.). Organic solutions were concentrated on Büchi B-114rotatory evaporators at ˜25 torr at 25-30° C.

Commercial reagents and solvents were used as received. All solventsused for extraction and chromatography were HPLC grade. Normat-phase Sigel Sep paks™ were purchased from Waters, Inc. Thin-layer chromatographyplates were Kieselgel 60F₂₅₄. All synthetic reagents were purchased fromSigma Aldrich Canada.

Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR) spectra were recorded at 25°C. using a Bruker 400 with inverse probe and Bruker 400 spectrometers,are reported in parts per million on the δ scale, and are referencedfrom the residual protium in the NMR solvent (CDCl₃: δ7.24 (CHCl₃),DMOS-d₆: δ3.50 (DMSO-d₅)). Data is reported as follows: chemical shift[multiplicity (s=singlet, d=doublet, dd=doublet of doublets, ddd=doubledoublet of doublets, dm=double multiplet, t=triplet, m=multiplet),coupling constant(s) in Hertz, integration]. Carbon-13 nuclear magneticresonance (¹³C NMR) spectra were recorded with a Bruker 400spectrometer, are reported in parts per million on the δ scale, and arereferenced from the carbon resonances of the solvent (CDCl₃: δ77.23,DMSO-d₆: δ39.51). Data is reported as follows: chemical shift. Fluorinenuclear magnetic resonance (¹⁹F NMR) spectra were recorded at 25° C.using a Bruker 300 spectrometer, are reported in parts per million onthe δ scale. Data is reported as follows: chemical shift [multiplicity(td=triplet of doublets), coupling constant(s) in Hertz].

Example 1

Application of a number of screens was used to identify active compoundsthat inhibited the activity of the AR NTD. The initial screen was acell-based assay comprising of LNCaP cells maintained in culture. Theassay consists of activating the AR using both androgen(ligand-dependent) and forskolin (ligand-independent) and measuring thelevels of secreted PSA by LNCaP cells in the presence and absence ofcrude extracts. PSA is an androgen-regulated gene that contains severalwell-characterized AREs. Androgen-independent increases in PSA geneexpression occur in prostate cancer cells by a mechanism dependent uponthe AR. PNG 01-185 extract was observed to block PSA secretion inducedby both androgen and forskolin.

To ensure that the inhibitory effects of PNG 01-185 extract onendogenous PSA protein was at the transcriptional level, reporter geneconstructs were also examined. Activation of the endogenous AR wasmeasured in LNCaP human prostate cancer cells by measuringandrogen-responsive reporters that contain androgen response elements(AREs) such as the PSA-luciferase reporter gene construct or theARR3-luciferase reporter. LNCaP cells maintained as monolayers weretransfected with PSA-luciferase and were used to screen the crudeextracts prepared from marine sponges as well as some selectedcommercial compounds. Measurement of both PSA-luc and ARR3-luc wascarried out because PSA-luc is highly induced by androgen and in theabsence of androgens induced by FSK. R1881 (1 nM) was used to mediateligand-dependent activation of the AR and concentrations of FSK (50 μM)were used to mediate ligand-independent activation of the AR. PNG 01-185was observed to block PSA-luciferase activity induced by both R1881 andFSK (FIG. 1). Controls included parallel experiments with cell linesthat do not express AR and other reporters that do not contain AREs.

PNG 01-185 extract was fractionated according to the scheme shown inFIG. 2 to produce PNG 01-185-17. Each fraction of PNG 01-185-17 wasre-tested on ARR3-luc activity and fractions 3 and 8 showed at least 50%inhibition (FIG. 3). These fractions were next tested for their abilityto inhibit the AR NTD. LNCaP cells were co-transfected with theexpression vector for Gal4DBD-AR₁₋₅₅₈ and the complimentary5XGal4UAS-luciferase reporter as shown in FIG. 4. Induction of thisreporter by FSK is a measure of transactivation of the Gal4DRD-AR₁₋₅₅₈fusion protein (Sadar 1999 J. Biol. Chem. 274, 7777-7783). Extractsidentified above were screened by such assays as well as some compoundspurchased form commercial suppliers. R1881 does not induce such assays(binds to the ligand-binding domain (LBD) of the AR which is not presentin the Gal4DBD-AR₁₋₅₅₈ chimera) and therefore was not used except as anegative control. These studies showed that PNG 01-185-17-8 inhibitedactivation of the AR NTD.

The following in Table 3 are chemical structures for compounds fromsponge extracts or commercially available compounds that showed activityusing the above-described assays:

TABLE 3

IC50s were determined for each hit that showed a dose response.Identified extracts were used to isolate a purified form of the compoundfrom natural compounds library that mediated the inhibitory effect ontransactivation of the AR as described in Example 2, followed bysecondary screens described in Example 3.

The following compounds in Table 4 showed no activity in theabove-described assays.

TABLE 4

The structural resemblance of some of the active compounds to BADGE(Bisphenol A Diglycidic Ether) indicates that they are most likely ofindustrial origin. The collected sponge presumably bioaccumulated thecompounds from the contaminated seawater. This was a fortuitous eventbecause it is unlikely that these compounds would have been screened inthe bioassays under any other circumstances.

Example 2

Purified active compound from the extracts described in Example 1 wereisolated. Specimens of Geodia lindgreni (Lendenfeld, 1903) werecollected by hand SCUBA at a depth of 5 M from under rocks on aprotected reef near Loloata Island, Papua New Guinea. The frozen sponge(890 g) was subsequently extracted exhaustively with MeOH and the crudeextracts were observed to be active in the assays described above inExample 1. Bioassay guided fractionation of the extract by sequentialapplication of Sephadex LH20, reversed phase flash column chromatographyand reversed-phase gradient HPLC gave purified samples ofPNG01-185-017-2, -5, -6, -7 and -8 (FIG. 2). The structures have beenelucidated by analyses of NMR and MS data and they are shown above inExample 1.

Bioassay graded fractionation of active extracts followed a standardprotocol. Initially, the crude extract was suspended in water andsequentially extracted with hexanes, CH₂Cl₂, and EtOAc to generate foursub-fractions of differing polarity. The first chromatography carriedout on the active fraction from this initial partition was a SephadexLH20 chromatography using either pure methanol or a mixed solvent systemas the eluent. Subsequent fractionations were carried out by open columnflash silica-gel or flash reversed-phase chromatography, HPLC(normal-phase and/or reversed-phase), or centrifugal counter currentchromatography (on an Ito Coil apparatus), etc. as the situationwarranted. Structure elucidation of novel metabolites was achieved byspectroscopic analysis, using 1D and 2D NMR techniques and massspectrometry, including a Bruker A V600 NMR spectrometer equipped with acryoprobe and the NANUC Varian 800 MHz NMR spectrometer in Edmonton,Alberta, Canada. Purified compounds were tested for activity using thescreens described above in Example 1 (ARE-luciferase activities and NTDtransactivation) and then used for secondary screens described inExample 3.

Example 3

The compounds were validated by application of secondary screen.Purified compounds were tested for their ability to inhibit:transactivation of the androgen receptor N-terminal domain (AR NTD),other steroid receptors (specificity); endogenous expression of PSAmRNA; AR interaction on AREs; N/C interaction; and proliferation ofprostate cancer cells in response to androgen.

Transactivation of the AR NTD

In the absence of serum and androgen, both forskolin (FSK), whichstimulates PKA activity, and IL-6 increase PSA gene expression inprostate cancer cells by a mechanism involving transactivation of the ARNTD (Sadar, M. D., J. Biol. Chem. 274, 7777-7783 (1999); Ueda, T.,Bruchovsky, N., Sadar, M. D., J. Biol. Chem. 277, 7076-7085 (2002); UedaT., Mawji, N. R. Bruchovsky, N., Sadar, M. D., J. Biol. Chem. 277,38087-38094 (2002 B). Quayle S N, Mawji N R, Wang J, Sadar M. D., ProcNatl Acad Sci USA, 2007 Jan. 23; 104(4):1331-6.) The ability of 185-9-2to inhibit transactivation of the AR NTD was tested by cloning aminoacids 1-558 of the human AR NTD into the C-terminus of Gal4DBD.Expression vectors for these chimeric proteins were cotransfected into(p5xGal4UAS-TATA-luciferase). Cells were pretreated with bicalutamide(BIC, 10 μM) or 185-9-2 (5 ug/ml=12 μM)) before the addition of FSK orIL-6. Controls included bicalutamide which does not affect such assaysbecause it binds to the LBD of the AR which is not present in theGal4DBD-AR₁₋₅₅₈ chimera. 185-9-2 was observed to reduce both FSK-inducedand IL-6-induced transactivation of the AR NTD to baseline levels (FIG.5). 185-9-2 was observed to have an IC₅₀ of ˜6.6 μM for inhibition oftransactivation of the AR NTD.

Steroid Receptor Specificity

Sequence similarities of amino acids in the AR with related humansteroid receptors PR and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) are significant insome domains such as the DBD. The AR NTD shares less than 15% homologywith the PR and GR but these receptors interact with some of the sameproteins (eg., SRC-1 and CBP). Therefore, reporter gene assays is wereused to determine if candidate compounds that block AR activity have anyeffect on GR and PR transcriptional activity. Cells were co-transfectedwith expression plasmids for full-length hGR, PRβ and the relativereporter (i.e., pGR-Luc or PRE-E1b-Luc reporters). Cells were thentreated with ethanol vehicle, dexamethasone (GR), 4-pregnene-3,20 dione(progesterone) (PR) followed by measurement of luciferase activity.185-9-2 inhibited AR transcriptional activity, but did NOT inhibitPRE-luciferase or GRE-luciferase activities in response to ligand (FIG.6). In contrast, bicalutamide (10 μM) inhibited the transcriptionalactivity of PR. Some antiandrogens currently used in the clinic haveprogestational and glucocorticoidal activities. In adult males, the roleof the PR activity is unclear. 185-9-2 A does not inhibit thetransactivation of other steroid receptors. These studies also provideevidence that 185-9-2 does not have non-specific and general effects ontranscription or translation since it did not inhabit induction of theseluciferase reporters in response to their cognant ligands. Since 185-9-2blocks PSA-luciferase reporter gene activity that contains several AREsand is inducible by androgens and FSK supports that its inhibitoryeffects are at the level of transcription. These studies suggest that185-9-2 is specific to the AR implying there should be fewer sideeffects from systemic delivery as opposed to if other steroid receptorsare affected.

Endogenous Gene Expression

Induction of PSA mRNA by both R1881 (ligand-dependent) and FSK(ligand-independent) in LNCaP cells is dependent upon AR (Sadar, M. D.,J. Biol Chem. 274, 7777-7783 (1999); Wang G, Jones S J, Marra M A, SadarM D, Oncogene 2006; 25:7311-23.). To test whether the compounds have aneffect on endogenous gene expression, the levels of PSA mRNA in LNCaPcells exposed to R1881 were measured. LNCaP cells (in serum-free andphenol-red free media) were incubated with compounds for 1 hour beforethe addition of R1881 (1 nM) for an additional 16 hours beforeharvesting and isolating total RNA. Levels of mRNA were measured usingQPCR. Levels of PSA mRNA were normalized to levels of GAPDH mRNA.185-92-2 was observed to block endogenous PSA mRNA induction by R1881 toalmost baseline levels (FIG. 7).

AR Interaction with AREs on the DNA

Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) was used to assess if 185-9-2prevented AR binding to the endogenous AREs in the enhancer region ofthe PSA gene in the physiological context of chromatin structure. The ARshows constitutive occupancy on the PSA promoter ARE, while the enhancerARE has inducible occupancy in response to androgen (Jia L., Coetzee GA., Cancer Res. 2005 Sep. 1; 65 (17); 8003-8). The occupancy of AR onthese regulatory regions peaks at 16 hr of androgen treatment (Jia L,Choong C S, Ricciardelli C, Kim J, Tilley W D, Coetzee G A., Cancer Res.2004 Apr. 1; 64 (7):2619-26; Louie M C, Yang H Q, Ma A H, Xu W, Zou J X,Kung J J, Chen H W., Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2003 Mar. 4;100(5):2226-30; Wang Q, Carroll J S, Brown M., Mol Cell. 2005 Sep. 2;19(5):631-42.). LNCaP cells were treated for a short (3 h) or optimal(16 h) period of time with DHT plus or minus 185-9-2, prior tocross-linking with 1% formaldehyde and harvesting cells. The cells werelysed, sonicated, and the extracts used for immunoprecipitation withanti-AR antibody. 185-9-2 inhibited AR interaction with the ARE on thePSA enhancer in LNCaP cells in response to androgen (FIG. 8A). Thedecrease in AR interaction with ARE was not due to decreased levels ofAR protein. Western blot analysis of AR protein from whole lysatesprepared from LNCaP cells harvested at these same time points, revealedthat 185-9-2 does NOT decrease levels of AR protein (FIG. 8B). Long termincubation of LNCaP cells with 185-9-2 also did not reduce levels of ARprotein (FIG. 9). Thus, it is believed that 185-9-2 does not inhibit ARtranscriptional activity by reducing levels of AR protein. This suggeststhat the mechanism of action of 185-9-2 is unique from other compoundssuch as AR mRNA hammerhead ribozyme, AR siRNA, pyranocoumarin, calpain,phenethyl isothiocyanate, fulvestrant, decursin, LAQ824, and baicaleinthat decrease levels of AR protein and are being explored in otherlaboratories.

185-9-2 Does Not Prevent Nuclear Translocation of the AR

Another possible mechanism by which any of these inhibitors may decreasetransactivation of the AR could involve prevention of nucleartranslocation of AR protein. In the absence of both androgen orstimulation by alternative pathways, AR is primarily cytoplasmic.Cellular fractionation and fluorescent microscopy (FIG. 10 A,B) revealedthat 185-9-2 did not cause nuclear translocation of the AR on its own inthe absence of androgen, nor did it prevent nuclear translocation of ARprotein in response to androgen (dihydrotestosterone, DHT).

N/C Interaction

Ligand-dependent activity of the AR requires interaction between theamino (N) and carboxy (C) termini for antiparallel dimer formation (HeB, Kemppainen J A, Voegel J J, Gronemeyer H, Wilson E M., J Biol Chem.1999, 274(52):37219-25.). Antiandrogens such as bicalutamide, fluramideand cyproterone acetate do not stimulate this interaction on their own,and each inhibits N/C interaction induced by androgen (Wong, C. I.,Zhou, Z. X., Sar, M., and Wilson, E. M. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268,19004-19012; Langley, E., Zhou, Z. X., and Wilson E. M. (1995) J. Biol.Chem. 270, 29983-29990; Kemppainen, J. A., Langley, E., Wong, C. I.,Bobseine, K., Kelee, W. R., and Wilson, E. M. (1999) Mol. Endocrinol.13, 440-454; Masiello D, Cheng S, Bubley G J, Lu M L, Balk S P. (2002)J. Biol. Chem. 277, 29, 26321-26326). The mammalian two-hybrid systemwas used to measure this interaction. CV1 cells were cotransfected withthe expression vector for a fusion protein of amino acids 1-565 of theAR NTD fused to VP16 at the N-terminus (VP16-ARTAD, the N terminus), theexpression vector for the DBD of Gal4 fused to the LBD of the AR (aminoacids 628-919; Gal4-ARLBD; the C terminus), and the Gal4-luciferasereporter (Masiello D, Cheng S, Bubley G J, Lu M L, Balk S P. (2002) J.Biol. Chem. 277, 29, 26321-26326). There was no detectable interactionbetween the VP16-ARTAD and Gal4-ARLBD in the absence of androgen (FIG.11). Androgen stimulated this interaction as measured by increasedluciferase activity which was blocked by bicalutamide (see also, forexample, Masiello D, Cheng S, Bubley G J, Lu M L, Balk S P, (2002) J.Biol. Chem. 277, 29, 26321-26326). Importantly, 185-9-2 was observed toinhibit androgen-stimulated N/C interaction (compare columns 6 and 2).Thus, it is believed that 185-9-2 inhibits the transcriptional activityof the AR by preventing N/C interaction.

Proliferation Assay

The prostate gland is an androgen-dependent organ where androgens arethe predominant mitogenic stimulus (Isaacs J T, Scott W W, Coffey D S.,Prog Clin Biol Res. 1979; 33:133-44). This dependency on androgensprovides the underlying rationale for treating prostate cancer withchemical or surgical castration. Androgen (0.1 nM) stimulates theproliferation of LNCaP cells. To test whether 185-9-2 interference withAR AF-1 function reduces androgen-dependent proliferation of LNCaPcells, similar to what is observed for antiandrogens used clinically,LNCaP cells were pretreated for 1 h with bicalutamide (10 μM; positivecontrol) or 185-9-2 (5 μg/ml) prior to addition of 0.1 nM R1881. BrdUincorporation was measured 4 days later to indicate changes inproliferation in response to androgen (FIG. 12). R1881 (0.1 nM)increased proliferation over control (vehicle for R1881 and smallmolecules). 185-9-2 was observed to be as effective as bicalutamide inblocking androgen-induced proliferation. 185-9-2 was observed not toblock proliferation of PC3 human prostate cancer cells (FIG. 13, p>0.05)that do not express functional AR and thus do not rely on the AR forgrowth and survival (Kaighn et al 1978 Natl. Cancer Inst. Monogr. 49,17-21).

Example 4

The subcutaneous xenograft models were used to test whether the smallmolecules that inhibit activation of the androgen receptor in vitro havean effect on these tumors. PNG01-185-017-9-2 was tested in vivo usingthe LNCaP and PC3 subcutaneous xenograft models. In vivo experimentswere done to provide information relevant to toxicity, the requirementfor endogenous expression of AR, and whether PNG01-185-017-9-2 had aneffect on tumor growth and progression to androgen independence. Tumorvolume was monitored in both xenograft models.

PNG01-185-017-9-2 Reduced the Tumor Volume of LNCaP Xenografts

LNCaP human prostate cancer cells express endogenous androgen receptor(AR) and prostate-specific antigen (PSA), and progress to androgenindependence in castrated hosts. LNCaP cells (10⁶/ml) were implantedsubcutaneously into NOD-SCID male mice that were at least 8 weeks inage. The cells were suspended in 75 μl of RPMI medium 1640 (5% FBS) with75 μl, of Matrigel and injected into the flank region of the host underanesthesia. The animals were castrated when the tumors wereapproximately 100 mm³ (mean=131.1±24.9 mm³; n=19) and randomized intotwo groups. One week after castration the animals were treated every 5days with an intratumoral (i.t.) dose of 20 mg/kg body weight of 185-9-2or matching volume of vehicle (control, DMSO). Animals were injectedwith 185-9-2 over a period of 25 days and harvested 5 days after thelast injection. A total of five doses were given to the animal. Tumorvolume and body weight were measured every 5 days. 185-9-2 was observedto significantly reduce the tumors, even after the first injection (FIG.14). At the duration of the experiment the 185-9-2 treated tumors were35.4±15.7 mm³, while vehicle-treated tumors continued to grow and were435.6±334.9mm³. Thus 185-9-2 were observed to reduce the tumor volumeand did not just slow the growth. This suggests 185-9-2 may be curativefor androgen-independent prostate cancer. I.T delivery of the relatedcompound, racemic BADGE.2HCl (B3) was also observed to reduce tumorvolume from 109.6±17.4 mm³ to 79.0±63.6 mm³ compared of I.T. delivery ofDMSO which continued to grow (starting at 105.2±15.1 mm³ to 256.6±73.4mm³) following the same treatment regime as for 185-9-2 (FIG. 15A).Serum PSA measurements correlated with tumor volume data (serum PSA datanot shown).

Importantly, i.v. delivery by tail vein injections every other day (50mg/kg body weight) showed a similar rate of cytoreduction of tumors(FIG. 15A). Within just 2 weeks, i.v. injection of 185-9-2 was observedto reduce tumors from 105.6-35 12.0 mm³ to 64.3±29.6 mm³, while tumorswere 187.9±42.8 mm³ in animals receiving i.v. injection of DMSO. Thesepromising data emphasize that systemic delivery is effective in reducingandrogen-independent prostate cancer. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) using amarker for apoptosis (TUNEL) and proliferation (Ki67) shows thatintravenous delivery of 185-9-2 increased apoptosis and reducedproliferation (FIG. 15B) consistent with cytoreduction of the tumors.IHC data was prepared by a commercial lab that was blinded totreatments. 185-9-2 was observed not to cause general toxicity toanimals indicated by no change in animal behavior or body weight (FIGS.14C and 15C). Pathology review of sections of lung, heart, liver,spleen, and kidney harvested from mice receiving 185-9-2 or DMSO by i.v.delivery showed no signs of toxicity (FIG. 16).

Levels of AR Protein in Harvested Xenografts

IHC (FIG. 17A) and western blot analysis (FIG. 17B) provide evidencethat I.V. or I.T. delivery of 185-9-2 did not decrease levels of ARprotein in xenografts compared to levels of AR protein invehicle-treated xenografts. Levels of cytokeratin 18 were measured as anindication of amount of epithelial cells in the xenograft samples.

Effects on Angiogenesis

Angiogenesis in prostate cancer is predominantly dependent upon vascularendothelial growth factor (VEGF). Testosterone is a potent inducer ofVEGF in the prostate (Häggström et al 1999 J Urol. 161, 1620-1625) andre-expression of VEGF in androgen independent tumours is consistent withthe re-expression of androgen-regulated genes (Gregory et al 1998 CancerRes. 58, 5718-5742). Expression of VEGF is associated with androgenindependence (Mitsiades et al 2001 Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 10,1099-1115) and aggressive metastatic disease (Harper et al 1998 JPathol. 186, 169-177; Balbay et al 1999 Clin Cancer Res. 5, 783-789;Melnyk et al 1999 J Urol. 161, 960-963). Staining of the harvestedtumors for VEGF reveal that PNG01-185-017-9-2 inhibited the expressionof VEGF (FIG. 18).

Subcutaneous PC3 Xenograft Models in Non-Castrated Hosts

The PC3 xenograft model was employed to give an indication of whetherendogenous AR must be expressed for the compounds to reduce rumorburden. PC3 are human prostate cancer cells that do not expressfunctional AR and should therefore not respond to therapy with thesesmall molecules that have been selected for their specificity inblocking transactivation of the AR-NTD. PC3 cells were implantedsubcutaneously into NOD-SCID male mice. The animals were randomized intotwo groups when the tumors were approximately 100 mm³ (n=9 and 10; meantumor volume=112.1±19.7 mm³). Animals were treated every 5 days with asubcutaneous dose of 20 mg/kg body weight of PNG01-185-017-9-2 ormatching volume of vehicle (control, DMSO). Tumor volume and body weightwere measured every 5 days. In contrast to LNCaP xenografts,PNG01-185-017-9-2 did not reduce tumors but did slightly slow the growthof PC3 xenografts (FIG. 19A, B). Consistent with previous experimentsshown here, no toxicity was observed as indicated by animal behavior andmeasured by body weight over the course of the treatments (FIG. 19C).

Example 5

To improve the delivery of 185-9-2, a glycine ester derivative of theBADGE.HCL.H2O (FIG. 20A) was made. It is freely water soluble. Thiscompound was submitted for cell-based testing and was observed toinhibit transactivation of the AR NTD induced by interleukin-6 (IL-6)(FIG. 20B, compare lane 2 with lane 4).

The following Table 5 includes experimental data relating to thecompounds shown.

TABLE 5 COMPOUND EXPERIMENTAL DATA

7% inhibition of Fsk activation of Gal4ARN at 20 μM 33% inhibition ofR1881 activation of p6.1luc at 20 μM and 20% at 12.5 μM

79% inhibiton Fsk activation of gal4ARN at 12.5 μM 69% inhibition ofR1881 activation p6.1luc at 12.5 μM 63% inhibition of R1881 activationof p6.1luc at 12.5 μM

88% inhibition of Fsk activation of GalARN at 12.5 μM 34.8% inhibitionof R1881 activation of p6.1luc 55% inhibition of 12.5 μM R1881activation of p6.1luc at 12.5 μM

33% inhibition of Fsk activation of Gal4ARN at 20 μM 35% inhibition ofR1881 activation of p6.1luc at 12.5 μM 33% inhibition of R1881activation of p6.1luc at 12.5 μM

42% inhibition of R1881 activation of p6.1luc at 12.5 μM 29% inhibitionof R1881 activation of p6.1luc at 12.5 μM

10% inhibition of R1881 activation of ARR3luc at 50 μM

Example 6 (R)-BADGE (1)

NaH as a 60% dispersion in mineral oil (96 mg, 2.40 mmol, 2.2 equiv) wassuspended in anhydrous dimethyl formamide (5 mL) under argon atmosphere.The mixture was cooled to 0° C. and bisphenol A (250 mg, 1.09 mmol, 1equiv) was added. After 15 min, (R)-epichlorohydrin (214 μL, 2.73 mmol,2.5 equiv, 99% ee) was added via syringe and the mixture was allowed toreact at room temperature for 7 h. Then, the solution was quenched withdeionized water (˜3 mL) and the mixture was extracted with ethyl acetate(3×3 mL). The organic layer was washed with deionized water (2 mL), wasdried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, was filtered, and wasconcentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting residue was purifiedby flash column chromatography on silica gel (eluent: dichloromethaneand 2% methanol in dichloromethane) to provide (R)-BADGE (67 mg, 22%) asa white foamy residue.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ9.13 (s, 1H), 7.09 (d, J=8.8 2H), 6.97 (d,J=8.4, 2H), 6.83 (d, J=8.8, 2H), 6.63 (d, J=8.8 2H), 4.25 (dd, J=11.22.8 1H), 3.78 (dd, J=11.2, 6.4, 1H), 3.29 (m, 1H), 2.82 (t, J=4.8, 1H),2.68 (dd, J=4.8, 2.4, 1H), 1.54 (s, 6H). ¹³C NMR (100 MHz, DMSO-d6):δ156.5, 155.6, 143.8, 141.3, 128.0, 127.9, 115.2, 114.4, 69.5, 50.4,44.4, 41.7, 31.4. TLC (5% methanol in dichloromethane), Rf: 0.45 (UV,p-anisaldehyde).

(R)-BADGE x H₂O (5)

To a stirred solution of (R)-BADGE (13 mg, 0.045 mmol, 1 equiv) inanhydrous dimethyl formamide (0.3 mL) at rt was added K₂CO₃ (6 mg, 0.045mmol, 1 equiv) and racemic glycidol (9 μL, 0.135 mmol, 3 equiv). Afterstirring for 6 h at 60° C., deionized water (0.2 mL) was added to theresulting orange-brown solution. The mixture was extracted with ethylacetate (3×1 mL). The organic layer was washed with deionized water (2mL), was dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, was filtered, and wasconcentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting residue was purifiedby flash column chromatography on silica gel Sep pak 2 g (eluent:dichloromethane and 5% methanol in dichloromethane) to provide (R)-BADGEx H2O (10.3 mg, 63%) as a colourless oil.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ7.08 (dd, J=8.0, 5.2, 4H), 6.83 (dd, J=10.8,8, 4H), 4.89 (d, J=5.2, 1H), 4.62 (t, J=5.6, 1H), 4.26 (dd, J=11.6, 2.8,1H), 3.93 (dd, J=9.6, 4.0, 1H), 3.78 (m, 3H), 3.42 (t, J=5.6, 2H), 3.29(m, 1H), 2.82 (t, J=4.8, 1H), 2.68 (dd, J=4.8, 2.4 J=11.6, 2.8 1H), 1.57(s, 6H). TLC (5% methanol in dichloromethane), Rf: 0.36 (UV,p-anisaldehyde).

(R)-BADGE x HI x H₂O (6)

To a solution of (R)-BADGE x H₂O (10 mg, 0.029 mmol, 1 equiv) inacetonitrile (0.5 mL) was added CeCl₃.7H₂O (21 mg, 0.057 mmol, 2 equiv)and NaI (9 mg, 0.057 mmol, 2 equiv). After stirring for 6 h at rt, theresulting yellow suspension was concentrated under reduced pressure. Thereaction mixture was dissolved with dichloromethane (2 mL) and washedwith H₂O (3×0.5 mL), the organic layer was dried over anhydrous MgSO₄and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. The resultingresidue was purified by flash column chromatography on silica gel Seppak 2 g (eluent: dichloromethane and 10% methanol in dichloromethane) toprovide (R)-BADGE x HI x H₂O (9 mg, 67%) as a colourless foam.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ7.09 (m, 4H), 6.81 (m, 4H), 5.52 (d, J=4.8,1H), 4.86 (d, J=4.8, 1H), 4.59 (t, J=5.6, 1H), 3.88 (m, 3H), 3.75 (m,3H), 3.40 (m, 3H), 3.31 (m, 1H), 1.57 (s, 6H). ¹³C NMR (100 MHz,DMSO-d₆): δ157.1, 156.7, 143.4, 143.0, 128.0, 127.9, 114.5, 114.4, 71.4,70.6, 70.1, 68.6, 63.4, 41.8, 31.3, 12.7. TLC (5% methanol indichloromethane), Rf: 0.30 (UV, p-anisaldehyde).

Example 7

racemic BADGE (9)

A round-bottomed flask was charged sequentially with NaH (200 mg, 4.80mmol, 2.2 equiv) and bisphenol A (500 mg, 2.18 mmol, 1 equiv), and thecontents were placed under an atmosphere of argon. Anhydrous dimethylformamide (5 mL) was introduced via syringe, and the resulting mixturewas stirred at room temperature. After 15 min, racemic epichlorohydrin(700 μL, 8.96 mmol, 4.1 equiv) was added via syringe and the mixture wasallowed to react at room temperature for 18 h. Then, the solution wasquenched with deionized water (˜1 mL) and the mixture was extracted withethyl acetate (3×4 mL). The organic layer was washed with deionizedwater (2 mL), was dried over anhydrous magnesium sulfate, was filtered,and was concentrated under reduced pressure. The resulting residue waspurified by flash column chromatography on silica gel (eluent:dichloromethane) to provide racemic BADGE (536 mg, 72%) as a white foamyresidue.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ7.10 (d, J=8.8, 4H), 6.84 (d, J=8.8, 4H),4.25 (dd, J=11.6, 2.8, 2H), 3.78 (dd, J=11.2, 6.4, 2H), 3.29 (m, 2H),2.81 (t, J=4.8, 2H), 2.68 (m, 2H), 1.60 (s, 6H). ¹³C NMR (100 MHz,DMSO-d₆): δ156.6, 143.5, 128.0, 114.5, 69.5, 50.3, 44.4, 41.8, 31.3. TLC(5% methanol in dichloromethane), Rf: 0.77 (UV, p-anisaldehyde).

(R)-BADGE (10)

Same procedure as previously described for racemic BADGE, but using(R)-epichlorohydrin.racemic BADGE x 2 HCl (11)

To a solution of racemic BADGE (95 mg, 0.279 mmol, 1 equiv) inacetonitrile (1.0 mL) was added CeCl₃.7H₂O (208 mg, 0.558 mmol, 2 equiv)and the mixture was refluxed for 6 h. The resulting white paste wasfiltered with dichloromethane and the clear suspension was concentratedunder reduced pressure. The resulting residue was purified by flashcolumn chromatography on silica gel Sep pak 2 g (eluent: dichloromethaneand 10% methanol in dichloromethane) to provide racemic BADGE x 2 HCl(70 mg, 61%) as a colourless foam.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ7.09 (d, J=8.8, 4H), 6.83 (d, J=8.4, 4H),5.50 (d, J=5.2, 2H), 3.99 (m, 2H), 3.92 (d, J=5.6, 4H), 3.73 (dd,J=11.2, 4.4, 2H), 3.65 (dd, J=11.2, 5.6, 2H), 1.57 (s, 6H). ¹³C NMR (100MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ15.7, 143.4, 128.0, 114.5, 69.5, 69.3, 47.4, 41.8, 31.3.TLC (5% methanol in dichloromethane), Rf: 0.31 (UV, p-anisaldehyde).

Example 8 (R)-BADGE x 2HCl (12)

Same procedure as previously described for racemic BADGE x 2HCl, butusing (R)-BADGE as starting material.

Example 9 racemic BADGE x 2HI (13)

To a solution of racemic BADGE (60 mg, 0.176 mmol, 1 equiv) inacetonitrile (1.0 mL) was added CeCl₃.7H₂O (131 mg, 0.352 mmol, 2 equiv)and NaI (53 mg, 0.352 mmol, 2 equiv). After stirring for 3 h at rt, theresulting yellow suspension was concentrated under reduced pressure. Thereaction mixture was dissolved with dichloromethane (3 mL) and washedwith H₂O (3×1 mL), the organic layer was dried over anhydrous magnesiumsulfate and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. Theresulting residue was dichloromethane and 10% methanol indicloromethane) to provide racemic BADGE x 2HI (55 mg, 52%) as a brownfoam.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ7.09 (d, J=8.8, 4H), 6.82 (d, J=8.8, 4H),5.53 (d, J=5.2, 2H), 3.87 (m, 4H), 3.71 (m, 2H), 3.40 (dd, J=10.4, 4.8,2H), 3.31 (m, 2H), 1.57 (s, 6H). ¹³C NMR (100 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ156.7,143.5, 128.1, 114.5, 71.4, 68.6, 41.8, 31.3, 12.7. TLC (5% methanol indichloromethane), Rf: 0.43 (UV, p-anisaldehyde).

Example 10 (R)-BADGE x 2HI (14)

Same procedure as previously described for racemic BADGE x 2HI, butusing (R)-BADGE as starting material.

Example 11

racemic BADGE x 2HBr (15)

To a solution of racemic BADGE (60 mg, 0.176 mmol, 1 equiv) inacetonitrile (1.0 mL) was added CeCl₃.7H₂O (131 mg, 0.352 mmol, 2 equiv)and NaBr (36 mg, 0.352 mmol, 2 equiv). After stirring overnight at rt,the suspension was filtered with dichloromethane (6 mL) and washed withH₂O (3×2 mL), the organic layer was dried over anhydrous magnesiumsulfate and the solvent was removed under reduced pressure. Theresulting reside was purified by flash column chromatography on silicagel Sep pak 2 g (eluent: dichloromethane and 5 to 10% methanol indichloromethane) to provide racemic BADGE x 2 HBr (33 mg, 58%) as acolourless foam.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ7.09 (d, J=8.4 4H), 6.83 (d, J=8.8, 4H),5.54 (d, J=5.2, 2H), 3.98 (m, 2H), 3.93 (d, J=5.6 4H), 3.62 (dd, J=10.0,4.4, 2H), 3.53 (dd, J=10.4, 5.2 2H), 1.57 (s, 6H). ¹³C NMR (100 MHz,DMSO-d₆): δ156.7, 143.5, 128.1, 114.5, 70.2, 68.8, 41.8, 37.2, 31.3. TLC(5% methanol in dichloromethane), Rf: 0.53 (UV, p-anisaldehyde).

Example 12

racemic BADGE x 2HF (16)

To a solution racemic BADGE (60 mg, 0.176 mmol, 1 equiv) in anhydroustoluene (1.0 mL) was added 1M solution of TBAF in THF (0.88 mL, 0.88mmol, 5 equiv), and the mixture was allowed to stir at 80° C. for 12 h.The mixture was subjected to a short path column chromatography (eluent:dichloromethane and 5% methanol in dichloromethane) to remove TBAF. Theresulting residue was purified by flash column chromatography on silicagel Sep pak 2 g (eluent: 30% ethyl acetate in hexane) to provide racemicBADGE x 2HF (14 mg, 22%) as a colourless foam.

¹H NMR (400 MHz, DMSO-d₆): δ7.09 (d, J=8.4, 4H); 6.82 (d, J=8.8, 4H),5.40 (d, J=5.2, 2H), 4.50 (ddd, J=47.6, 9.6, 3.6, 2H), 4.39 (ddd,J=47.6, 9.6, 3.6, 2H), 3.99 (dm, J=20.8, 2H), 3.90 (m, 4H), 1.56 (s,6H). ¹⁹F NMR (282.4 MHz, DMSO-d₆); δ−230.4 (td, J=50.4, 22.2). TLC (5%methanol in dichloromethane), Rf: 0.38 (UV, p-anisaldehyde).

Example 13 Synthesis of the Triglycine Ester 3 of BADGE.HCl,H₂O

Experimental for synthesis of the TFA salt 3 of Tri-Gly-Badge,HCL.H2O(1): To a solution of BADGE.HCL.H₂O (1) (8.80 mg, 0.02 mmol) in 1 mL ofCH₂Cl₂ was added BOC-GLy-OH (30.8 mg, 0.18 mmol), DMAP (catalyticamount), and DIPC (0.03 mL, 0.18 mmol). The mixture was stirred at roomtemperature for two hours and then filtered. The filtrate was added to 2mL of TFA, stirred at room temperature for 2 hours, and thenconcentrated in vacuo. The residue was partitioned between EtOAc andwater and the water layer was concentrated, dried, and then passedthrough a LH-20 column (eluted with 10% MeOH) to give pure product 3.After the TFA salt product was concentrated, it was dissolved in 2 mL ofMeOH, then 2 mL of 2N HCL was added. The mixture was stirred at roomtemperature for 5 min, concentrated under an N₂ stream, and then driedon vacuum for overnight to give the HCl salts.

Although various embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein, manyadaptations and modifications may be made within the scope of theinvention in accordance with the common general knowledge of thoseskilled in this art. Such modifications include the substitution ofknown equivalents for any aspect of the invention in order to achievethe same result in substantially the same way. Numeric ranges areinclusive of the numbers defining the range. The word “comprising” isused herein as an open-ended term, substantially equivalent to thephrase “including, but not limited to”, and the word “comprises” has acorresponding meaning. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and“the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictatesotherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a thing” includes more thanone such thing. Citation of references herein is not an admission thatsuch references are prior art to the present invention. Any prioritydocument(s) and all publications, including but not limited to patentsand patent applications, cited in this specification are incorporatedherein by reference as if each individual publication were specificallyand individually indicated to be incorporated by reference herein and asthough fully set forth herein. The invention includes all embodimentsand variations substantially as hereinbefore described and withreference to the examples and drawings.

1.-89. (canceled)
 90. A compound having a structure of Formula II

wherein each J and J′ is independently H; each L and L′ is independentlyO; each Q and Q′ is O; each Z and Z′ is independently CH, CF, CCl, CBr,or CI; R¹ and R² are each independently H, or a branched or unbranched,substituted or unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl; X is CH₂O (isopropyl),CH₂OC₂H₄OC₄H₉, CH₂I, CH₂Br, or CH₂F; X′ is H, CH₃, CH₂F, CH₂Cl, CH₂F,CH₂OJ′″, or CH₂OG; J′″ is independently H; G is a branched orunbranched, non-aromatic cyclic, substituted or unsubstituted, saturatedC₁-C₁₀ alkyl; wherein the optional substituent is selected from thegroup consisting of: oxo, COOH, R, OH, OR, F, Cl, Br, or I, wherein R isan unsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl; and wherein X′ is no —CH₂O(CH₂)₂CH₃, or—CH₂O(CH₂)₃CH₃; and wherein X is not —CH₂O(CH₂)₂—O—(CH₂)₃CH₃ when X′ isCH₂OH.
 91. The compound of claim 90, wherein each L and L′, whenpresent, is O.
 92. The compound of claim 90, wherein each Z and Z′ isCH.
 93. The compound of claim 90, wherein each R¹ and R² is CH₃.
 94. Thecompound of claim 90, wherein X is CH₂F, or CH₂O (isopropyl).
 95. Thecompound of claim 90, wherein X′ is CH₂F, CH₂Cl or CH₂OG.
 96. Thecompound of claim 90, wherein X′ is CH₂F, CH₂Cl, CH₂OCH₃ or CH₂O(isopropyl).
 97. The compound of claim 90, wherein X′ is CH₂OH.
 98. Apharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to claim 90and a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.
 99. A method for modulatingandrogen receptor (AR) activity for treatment of at least one indicationselected from the group consisting of: prostate cancer, breast cancer,ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, hair loss, acne, hirsutism, ovariancysts, polycystic ovary disease, precocious puberty, and age-relatedmacular degeneration; wherein, the method comprises administering to asubject in need thereof, a compound according to claim
 90. 100. Themethod of claim 99, wherein the modulating AR activity istransactivation of the AR N-terminal domain (NTD).
 101. The method ofclaim 99, wherein the indication is prostate cancer.
 102. The method ofclaim 101, wherein the prostate cancer is castration-resistant prostatecancer.
 103. A method for modulating androgen receptor (AR) activity fortreatment of at least one indication selected from the group consistingof: prostate cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer,hair loss, acne, hirsutism, ovarian cysts, polycystic ovary disease,precocious puberty, and age-related macular degeneration; wherein, themethod comprises administering to a subject in need thereof, a compoundhaving a structure of Formula II′:

wherein each L and L′ is O; X is CH₂F, CH₂I, CF₂Br, CH₂OH, CH₂OCH₃, orCH₂O (isopropyl), or CH₂OC₂H₄OC₄H₉; X′ is CH₂Cl, CH₂F, CH₂I, CH₂Br,CH₂OCH₃, CH₂O (isopropyl), or CH₂OC₂H₄OC₄H₉; each Q and Q′ is O; each Zand Z′ is independently CH, CF, CCl, CBr, or CI; R¹ and R² are eachindependently H, or a branched or unbranched, substituted orunsubstituted C₁-C₁₀ alkyl; J and J′ are each independently H; andwherein the optional substituent is selected from the group consistingof: oxo, COOH, R, OH, OR, F, Cl, Br, or I, wherein R is an unsubstitutedC₁-C₁₀ alkyl.
 104. The method of claim 103, wherein X is CH₂OH.
 105. Themethod of claim 103, wherein X is CH₂F, CH₂I, CH₂Br, or CH₂OCH₃. 106.The method of claim 103, wherein X′ is CH₂Cl.
 107. The method of claim103, wherein X′ is CH₂Cl, CH₂F, CH₂I, CH₂Br, or CH₂OCH₃.
 108. The methodof claim 103, wherein Z and Z′ is CH.
 109. The method of claim 103,wherein R¹ and R² is CH₃.
 110. The method of claim 103, wherein themodulating AR activity is transactivation of the AR N-terminal domain(NTD).
 111. The method of claim 103, wherein the indication is prostatecancer.
 112. The method of claim 111, wherein the prostate cancer iscastration-resistant prostate cancer.